Interview: Could groundbreaking new drug regenerate nerves?
NR Times hears from NervGen about its groundbreaking new drug that could enable the body to regenerate nerves.
Dementia Man playwright aims to challenge “tragedy narrative”
Samuel Simon is a prominent consumer rights campaigner in the US who turned to theatre to help process his wife’s cancer diagnosis, and later, his own experience with early-stage Alzheimer’s. Here he shares his story with NR Times.
Samuel Simon, 77, is a founding member of Nader's Raiders, a renowned public interest and advocacy group spearheaded by Ralph Nader in the 1970s. Samuel played a pivotal role in pushing for consumer protection and anti-trust enforcement reforms within the Federal Trade Commission. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, he pursued a career in law and found himself immersed in the world of public interest law during a time when it was still a nascent concept. Samuel's involvement with Nader's consumer movement catapulted him into the national spotlight, earning recognition in major media outlets, including the New York Times. His life took a turn for the worse when his wife was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in 2000. During this time, he grappled with the impending loss of his partner, an experience that later influenced his decision to begin his “fourth age of life” as a playwright and performer.
Naturopathic medicine and MS: is holistic healthcare misunderstood?
NR Times hears from a leading traditional naturopathic health practitioner who sheds light on the world of naturopathic medicine and shares her personal experience and journey towards holistic healing. One morning at the age of 29, Elizabeth Yarnell woke up blind in her right eye. Soon later, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She had never heard of naturopathy until the shock diagnosis in 1999 propelled her interest in a holistic approach to healthcare.
The untapped potential of neuropsychology in brain health
Dr Karen D Sullivan, board-certified neuropsychologist and founder of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN, talks to NR Times about neuropsychology’s power in improving neurological care, especially in dementia cases. Dr Sullivan’s journey in the field of cognitive impairment care spans from personal experiences as a direct caregiver to formal education at prestigious institutions like Harvard Medical School. One significant difference in how cognitive disorders are approached in neuropsychology is its shift in perspective from a medical-centric approach to a person-centred approach. Dr Sullivan draws attention to Thomas Kitwood's groundbreaking book, "Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First", which played a pivotal role in reshaping the understanding of dementia.
The need for better data in neurological care
Folia Health is on a mission to collect better data. The US company’s co-founder spoke to NR Times about the data gap in neurological care, patient-centric research and the importance of keeping data in the hands of patients.
The healthcare sector is becoming increasingly data-driven as the likes of AI, remote monitoring and wearable technologies continue to develop at a rapid pace. However, the founder of health-tracking app Folia Health, Nell Meosky Luo, told NR Times that while the industry continues to focus its energy on advanced data analytics techniques, more focus should be given to the quality of the data. “There’s this theory that healthcare should be more data-driven but I think what a lot of people don't talk about is the fact that we're not collecting good enough data,” Folia Health co-founder and CEO, Nell Meosky Luo told NR Times.
Parkinson’s: The nutritional steps to better life quality
NR Times hears from a nutrition specialist about the latest research on nutrition and Parkinson’s disease and how patients can adjust their diet to potentially aid their symptoms. As scientific understanding of neurodegenerative diseases evolves, research has identified a compelling link between nutrition and the risk and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In recent years, a growing body of research suggests that what we eat could play a larger role than previously thought, with some studies showing that certain foods and compounds may have an effect on disease risk and progression. Antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, for instance, are believed to combat oxidative stress, a key contributor to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and specific nuts have also shown promise in promoting brain health. Conversely, other research highlights the potentially detrimental impact of certain dietary factors typically associated with a Western-style diet. For example, the consumption of highly processed foods, red meats and saturated fats has been associated with an increased risk of developing the condition. Diet and nutrition are also thought to help patients living with PD better manage their symptoms. For example, fibre-rich foods and fluids can ease constipation, a common symptom of PD, while boosting calcium and vitamin D intake can help improve bone health. To find out more about this growing area of interest, NR Times spoke to Dr Bethany Tennant, a naturopathic physician and certified nutrition specialist, about the current research and what patients can do to optimise their diet.
Interview: A new age of ALS treatment?
NR Times reports on the much-anticipated trial of ALS treatment AMX0035, in an interview with Machelle Manuel, head of global medical affairs at its creator Amylyx.
Recently approved for treating ALS in the US, AMX0035 is now the subject of a major phase 3 clinical trial taking place across the US and Europe. ALS is a relentlessly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that up until recent decades was thought to be impossible to treat. While the cause of the condition is still uncertain, a new wave of treatments is coming to the fore. Sign up to NR Times to read our interview in full.
Interview: Helius CMO on game-changing tongue stimulation tech
A first-of-its-kind technology is boosting the benefit of physical therapy [...]
Metformin: the future of MS treatment?
NR Times speaks to UCLA researcher Dr Kevin Patel about the potential of metformin in MS care and an upcoming human trial assessing its efficacy.
