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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), though not without controversies, remains the most widely available, accessible and durable mutual aid recovery programme in the world. Though there is little research published on the neurobiology of recovery, existing research literature focusing on ‘active ingredients’, there is a vast body on the the neurochemistry of addiction that has lent credence to the ‘Disease Model’ concept.

The platform, which enables home care providers to more efficiently manage and support their staff and oversee appointments, has gained its 1,000th customer. CarePlanner is a complete staff rostering and management system for domiciliary care providers, including those who support people with complex disabilities caused by brain and spinal injuries and neurological conditions. Users are able to realise significant efficiency savings on a wide range of tasks such as communicating with staff, monitoring mileage costs and booking appointments.

Greater independence and several proven health benefits have contributed to growing global interest in stand-up wheelchairs, says C.Y. Cheung, founder of Wheelchair88. His Malaysia-based firm produces four stand-up wheelchair models, which are sold internationally and are becoming increasingly popular. Part of their appeal is the practical differences they can make to an individual’s life. Using gym equipment, withdrawing from cash machines and reaching for high shelves in supermarkets are some of the weekly tasks made possible by being raised from a seating to a standing position.

Private clinic the London Orthotic Consultancy (LOC), founded in 2004, provides bespoke orthotic treatments for a wide range of adult and paediatric conditions. It operates privately across the whole of the UK and abroad and also has a growing number of international clients. Director Sam Walmsley explains: “We deal with complex physical problems and generally manufacture bespoke orthotics to address them. We have a unique setup for the UK in that we have 2D video vector gait labs and we do all our manufacturing on site.’’

NHS Resolution's report concludes the findings of its investigations into cases of babies born with a potentially severe brain injury following labour, at term, which were reported to the NHS body under a new Early Notification Scheme. The scheme, in place since April 2017, aims to give families quick answers to questions about what may have gone wrong with the care they received, provide support and, if appropriate, award compensation without delay. It is part of a government plan to halve rates of stillbirths, neonatal/maternal deaths and brain injuries linked with birth by 2025 and covers 129 trusts in England. The new report looked at 96 serious cases of 197 investigated for liability.

Researchers have discovered a link between depression, psychosis and bipolar disorder in veterans – and a heightened risk of stroke, heart attack and death from cardiovascular disease. The connection between mental illness and cardiovascular disease is well established but little research exists on which mental health conditions pose the highest risk. In this study, researchers assessed veterans at risk for major heart disease and stroke events and death associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD, psychosis and bipolar disorder.

Stress, anxiety and exhaustion are at epidemic levels among people caring for stroke survivors, research suggests. A study by UK stroke charity the Stroke Association found that 40 per cent of stroke carers who have been caring for more than three years report feeling exhausted, while around a third are stressed or anxious. Almost one in five (19 per cent) have not accessed any form of external help since the stroke occurred – with more than a third (35 per cent) saying they receive no emotional support.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) is aiming to speed the development of an imaging tracer to visualise the key protein alpha-synuclein in the living brain. The award encourages independent scientific teams to race to develop a tracer compound to selectively bind to alpha-synuclein and illuminate its volume and location on a brain scan. Of the estimated 6 million people worldwide who live with Parkinson's disease (PD), the vast majority have clumps of the alpha-synuclein protein in the brain.

Various studies suggest that women and girls sustain more concussions, at a higher rate than their male counterparts in the same sports. A recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program study, for example, shows the rate of concussion per 1000 athlete-exposures in football is 6.3 in females versus 3.4 in males. Similar differences were noted in basketball (6.0 in females versus 3.9 in males) and baseball/softball (3.3 versus 0.9). Women are also known to experience more severe symptoms, and take longer to recover.

The company has launched an AI package for the identification and triage of stroke in CT scans. It flags and prioritises vascular occlusions which result in both ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes. The stroke package, comprising the new large-vessel occlusion AI module and Aidoc's FDA-cleared and CE-marked intracranial haemorrhage AI module, reduces 'door-to-needle' time for patients suffering from stroke, Aidoc says.