Undetected or “silent” seizures may contribute to some symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease, such as confusion, a small study suggests.
The seizures occur in the hippocampus — a part of the brain involved in the consolidation of memories. Researchers suspect that treating these seizures could help manage Alzheimer’s or possibly slow it down.
“While it is not surprising to find dysfunction in brain networks in Alzheimer’s disease, our novel finding that networks involved in memory function can become silently epileptic could lead to opportunities to target that dysfunction with new or existing drugs to reduce symptoms or potentially alter the course of the disease,” said study senior author Dr. Andrew Cole.
Cole directs the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Epilepsy Service.
“We now have to study more individuals to validate this finding and understand how prevalent it is in Alzheimer’s patients, whether it occurs in other neurodegenerative disorders and how it responds to treatment,” he said in a hospital news release.
Prevalence of Seizures to Alzheimer’s Symptoms
The study involved only two women. They were both in their 60s with symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The women had bouts of confusion or asked the same questions repeatedly.
Brain images and cerebrospinal fluid tests suggested they had Alzheimer’s, but swings in the women’s symptoms were much more dramatic than usual.
Neither of the women had a history of seizures. Normally, a test called an EEG conducted from the scalp can detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain of people who have seizures. But, in these two women, no such abnormalities were found, the researchers said. Since the hippocampus is a key part of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and also a common source of seizures in people with epilepsy, the researchers honed in on that part of the brain and conducted additional tests.
Electrodes were placed on both sides of the women’s brains through a naturally occurring opening at the base of the skull. Their brain activity was monitored for 24 to 72 hours.
The study found the women had seizure-like activity in the hippocampus. One woman had frequent surges of electrical activity usually associated with seizures that were not picked up by the scalp EEG. Three seizures occurred during sleep. None of these episodes caused any noticeable symptoms. Anti-seizure drugs eliminated the seizure-like activity. In the year that followed, the woman only had one incident of confusion, which occurred when she missed doses of her medicine.
The other woman also had frequent spikes in electrical activity in the hippocampus during sleep. This patient was also treated with anti-seizure medication but the treatment was discontinued due to unwanted mood-related side effects.
“Our findings confirmed the presence of serious dysfunction of the neuronal networks affected by Alzheimer’s disease and confirmed our hypothesis that epileptic phenomena are an important component of that disturbance,” said Cole. But, he added, more study is needed. The researchers hope to develop a way to detect these silent seizures without using the minimally invasive electrodes in the brain.
SOURCE: Massachusetts General Hospital, news release, May 1, 2017
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Headache and Auto Injury
After being involved in an automobile accident, it’s common for auto injury symptoms to manifest within the first 24 hours following the incident. Neck pain and headaches are some of the most prevalent symptoms associated with whiplash and other auto injuries. Due to the sudden back-and-forth jolt of the head from the impact of a car wreck, the complex structures surrounding the cervical spine or neck can become damaged or injured.
Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez offers some tips for back pain.
Our patients in El Paso have always appreciated our 5 Tips for Back Pain. Have you missed work, had to give up a recreational activity that you enjoy, or had trouble sleeping at night because of back pain? If so you�re not alone. In fact, it was recently found that 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point throughout their lives. In addition to this startling statistic, back pain has also risen to capture the number one spot as the leading cause of disability in the United States. While pain is the primary concern for sufferers of back pain, it often causes a significant financial burden as well. In 2012 alone, it was estimated that the American people spent nearly 30 billion dollars seeking treatment for their back pain.
With back pain rising to epidemic proportions, patients, doctors, and researchers are searching high and low for a cost effective solution. �The field of Chiropractic hopes this article will give you some information on the latest discoveries in research about back pain.
Five Simple Tips to Help You Manage Your Back Pain:
Weight
1. While being overweight or obese has been shown to be correlated with a greater incidence of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, it has also been found to be one of the biggest contributing factors for the development of back pain. Since our body’s frame is designed to only carry a certain amount of weight, excess weight puts an immense strain not only on our spine, but also on other joints throughout our body. This excess strain has been shown to increase the rate of degeneration of the vertebrae in our back, leading to the early development of back pain.
In addition to the degenerative effects of being overweight, those extra pounds have been shown to increase the odds of developing osteoarthritis, a herniated disc, and sciatica. Unfortunately, people who are obese also have a greater tendency to undergo unwanted back surgeries. So the next time you feel the urge to stop at your favorite fast food establishment, think twice and head home to get some of those fresh fruits and veggies.
Smoking
2. Since the time that cigarettes were invented there has always been someone saying smoking is bad for you. While many people have heard that smoking increases the risk of cancer, these same people may be surprised to hear that research is showing it also contributes to the development of back pain. In fact, smoking is related to spinal pain in a couple of different ways. First of all, smoking has been identified as one of the main factors in causing atherosclerosis (blockage of the small arteries throughout the body). The spine and its related tissues such, as the intervertebral discs, primarily receive their blood supply and nutrients from these small vessels. As these structures become obstructed due to smoking, the tissues are unable heal properly leading to early degeneration and pain.
In addition to the effects of atherosclerosis, the nicotine that is found in cigarettes has been shown to decrease the activity of the bone forming cells called osteoblasts. This can be considered another contributing factor to the spines decreased healing capability and as a direct result the presence of pain. These findings only give you another reason to quit smoking.
Posture
3. I bet you can still remember your parents yelling at you to sit up straight while at the dinner table or doing your homework. While you may have rebelled against your parents then, you should listen now; your posture has a large effect on your spine and the development of back pain. With the increased time people spend in the seated position at work or on the computer at home, learning how to correct your posture will go a long way in helping you obtain relief from back pain.
The effects of poor posture range from putting extra strain on the discs, vertebrae, and muscles throughout your back to causing an increase in pressure on the nerves exiting the spine. All of these factors contribute to pain not only in your back, but also throughout other areas of your body. So the next time you think about slouching in your chair, sit up straight and follow your chiropractors advice.
Sitting Too Long
4. Have you ever noticed that you back pain becomes worse when sitting in one position for too long? It has been shown through research that inactivity is one of the primary factors for the development of long-term musculoskeletal pain. Not only does inactivity lead to weight gain (which causes back pain in itself), it also causes the structures that support the spine to weaken, resulting in a greater incidence of back pain. In addition to weakening, the muscles and discs tend to shorten as certain positions are maintained for long periods of time. Simply developing a daily exercise and stretching program can go a long way in helping you gain relief from your back pain.
Pain: Body’s Mechanism Telling You Something Is Wrong
5. While many people wait until they can hardly stand the pain to visit a chiropractor, it is important to understand that pain is your body’s last mechanism for letting you know something is wrong. While the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic for the treatment of lower back pain is undebatable, many people are still unaware of exactly how chiropractic helps. Chiropractors simply focus on allowing the body to function properly, typically concentrating on the musculoskeletal and nervous system. While each patient is treated individually depending on their condition, chiropractors are skilled at identifying and correcting spinal misalignments. Since every message from your brain to your body travels through your spinal cord you can imagine how important the alignment of your spinal bones is for protecting this important structure. While chiropractic has been shown to be one of the most cost effective treatments for back pain, chiropractors are even better at preventing back pain from beginning in the first place.
Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez offers insights into choosing a chiropractic office.
Whether you are looking to change from your current chiropractor or you�re trying chiropractic treatment for the first time, it�s important to choose the right one to suit your needs and your lifestyle. Chiropractic care is an effective way to eliminate scores of health issues naturally, but it�s still important to find a chiropractor you feel at ease with. Here are tips on how to choose a El Paso chiropractic office.
Ask the Right Questions
When you have your initial consultation with a new chiropractor it�s important to ask questions. Find out how long he or she has been practicing, ask if they have a special area of expertise, and make sure to ask about their experience with your specific health issue. You�ll also get a good sense of whether they�re the right one by watching how they respond to your basic questions. Ideally, you�d like someone that is patient, friendly, and courteous throughout the consultation.
If you notice the chiropractor seems agitated or isn�t allowing you to finish your sentences before answering, you might want to shop around. Since chiropractic treatment is foreign to a lot of people, it�s important for the chiropractor to take the time necessary to explain the entire process clearly until you understand it.
Follow Your Instincts
Sometimes everything seems to check out but you just have a bad feeling for one reason or another. You�re always in control when it comes to selecting a El Paso chiropractic office, so follow your instincts whether they are good or bad.
You’ll find that most chiropractors are great people that are looking to provide you with the best possible care.� If you do your homework you’ll find one the resonates with you.
Degenerative disk disease (DDD), which could affect any one of us as we age, may be particularly problematic for people who are overweight. To understand why, take a step back and consider the construction and function of your spine.
The spine is made to help support the weight of your body. It’s designed to keep your weight balanced and evenly spread. For example, the vertebrae are positioned from smallest to largest: small in your neck (cervical spine) and greatest in your low back (lumbar spine). They grow in size because the lower parts of the back must support the most weight.
Your intervertebral discs�the cushions between your vertebrae�increase in size, also. Only because they need to absorb and adjust to the most weight, they are thickest in the lumbar spine.
The back must be functioning accordingly in order to ensure all of its structures are healthy. Nonetheless, in degenerative disc disease, their capability to properly operate are altered and often lost. Intervertebral discs gradually become less effective at absorbing and cushioning your motions. Joints, including the facet joints, may subsequently transform as they readjust to changes in the disc; and they may not move as easily, making it harder for your own body to take and distribute weight.
Extra weight puts additional stress on the back. In the event that you are overweight and have DDD, then you’re stressing and straining your vertebrae and discs much more. The excess weight might even accelerate the degenerative processes because the elements of your spine will need to work more to carry the additional weight�and the harder they work, the quicker they may wear out or degenerate.
A diagnosis of degenerative disc disorder might be the motivation you need to become more physically active to get rid of extra weight, stop smoking or make other lifestyle changes to benefit your back and overall health and wellness. Your doctor or alternative healthcare provider can offer helpful suggestions about lowering your body weight and enhancing your general well-being.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Weight Loss Eases Back Pain
Back pain and symptoms of sciatica can affect a majority of the population throughout their lifetime. Research studies have demonstrated that people who are overweight or obese experience more back complications than people with a healthy weight. A proper nutrition along with regular physical fitness can help with weight loss as well as help maintain a healthy weight to eliminate symptoms of back pain and sciatica. Chiropractic care is also another natural form of treatment which treats back pain and sciatica utilizing manual spinal adjustments and manipulations.
You don’t need to scald your hands to get rid of germs. For effective hand hygiene, water temperature matters less than time, new research states.
The finding runs counter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines recommending that food establishments and restaurants deliver water at 100 degrees Fahrenheit for hand washing, the researchers said.
Scientists at Rutgers University in New Jersey said they found that cold water is as effective as hot in getting rid of harmful bacteria and other germs. What’s more important, they said, is that people scrub their hands with soap for at least 10 seconds.
“People need to feel comfortable when they are washing their hands, but as far as effectiveness, this study shows us that the temperature of the water used didn’t matter,” said Donald Schaffner, a specialist in food science at the university.
And, using cold water saves more energy than warm or hot water, Schaffner pointed out.
“Also, we learned even washing for 10 seconds significantly removed bacteria from the hands,” he said in a university news release.
For the study, the researchers contaminated the hands of 21 volunteers with high levels of a harmless bacteria several times over six months. The participants were then asked to wash their hands in 60-degree, 79-degree or 100-degree water.
The amount of soap the people used didn’t affect the findings. The researchers noted that more study is needed to determine exactly how much soap and what types are best for removing potentially harmful germs.
Referring to the FDA guidelines for the food service industry, Schaffner said their findings suggest a policy change is in order.
“Instead of having a temperature requirement, the policy should only say that comfortable or warm water needs to be delivered,” he said. “We are wasting energy to heat water to a level that is not necessary.”
The study appears in the June issue of the Journal of Food Protection.
Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez shares a few tips on how to prevent back pain, treating injuries and stretching.
Since chiropractors see the results of poor lifestyle choices on a daily basis, it�s only natural to formulate opinions and offer tips to patients so they can help themselves. From sore backs, necks, shoulders, irregular sleeping patterns to back pain, we provide help in a wide range of areas. Here are 3 tips from a El Paso chiropractor that will help keep your body operating efficiently.
1) Try Not To Sit So Much
Sitting seems like a relatively innocent activity, but the negative effects that prolonged sitting creates are numerous. Extensive sitting has always been associated with back pain and spinal issues, but recent research also suggests a link between too much sitting and heart disease. If you have a sedentary job like so many people do, make a point of getting up and moving around at least once per hour. You can take phone calls standing up, buy an adjustable standing desk, do deep knee bends, jumping jacks or just go for a quick walk. The key is to stand up and move around to relieve pressure and stay healthy.
2) Get Injuries Treated Promptly
Another important tip from a El Paso chiropractic team is to get quick treatment if you�ve suffered an injury. A little twist or tweak now can lead to years of discomfort and improper muscle function if you just leave it alone. It�s always wise to apply ice to injuries to help reduce swelling, but visiting a chiropractor as soon as possible will help with the healing process and keep your muscles and joints functioning at full capacity.
Leaving minor injuries may not cause a great deal of pain, but the effects will be felt in the future. Many people end up using various pain medications or having reduced mobility as they get older because they chose to leave an injury alone.
3) Incorporate Stretching Into Your Day
Treating injuries promptly is a good idea, but preventing them altogether is even better. Keeping your muscles, tendons, and ligaments flexible with daily stretching will help you avoid many common injuries. You can incorporate the stretches into your morning routine or as part of your daily workout regimen. As you age, those muscles will become tighter and tighter leaving you prone to injury. Working for long hours hunched over a desk also shortens muscles and opens the door to injury. Stretching tips from a El Paso chiropractor include your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, chest, hips, and back. It only takes a few minutes a day, but you�ll notice the results for the rest of your life.
Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez gives insights into selecting a chiropractor.
One of the most common questions I get asked as a doctor is how do I find a great chiropractor in El Paso?� In some cities there are dozens to choose from and it can be difficult to know if the doctor you are considering is right for you.� This article will help to walk you through the steps that I would use to find a great doctor to take care of me.
Most patients choose their chiropractor based on the look of the outside of the office or how nice their website is.� I agree that a doctor that keeps up their office and that has a great website is probably a good choice, but there�s more to it than that.� Chiropractic is a very diverse profession so there are some deeper questions to ask.
To Know If A Chiropractor Is Right For You Is To Talk To Them
Learn about who they are as a person and why they became a chiropractor.� There are many different styles of adjusting and many different philosophies in the chiropractic field.� When you find a passionate doctor you have found what you�re looking for.
Ultimately you need to find someone that really cares about you and your well being.� A doctor that is going to be focused on your health and that has a plan to get you back on track.� If you feel uncomfortable then do your homework and you�ll find the best choice for you.
If you have been struggling with a health condition and it feels like you�re going around in circles, I encourage you to give us a call today.� If for any reason we feel that we cannot help you we will get you pointed in the right direction.� We are here to be a resource for you in any way that we can.
Today Is A Great Day To Improve Your Health
If you live in El Paso we encourage you to give our team�a call today.� Our friendly staff will setup a time for you to come in and learn about who we are and what we can do for you.
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