 We know that multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with both genetic and environmental factors that influence disease susceptibility. While we can’t change our genes, we can and must consider the effects of outside and controllable influences such as smoking habits.
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 In 1988 when the movie Rain Man was first released, many people had little familiarity with autism or understanding of what neurotypical individuals can experience on a day-to-day basis. Since then, we have indeed acquired a significant amount of information and more scientific research about the disorder, but what have we really learned as far as valid therapies and even potentially reducing its incidence?
 In recent weeks, our lives have changed in ways we may never have imagined. One thing that has also changed in a way that is potentially even more beneficial right now - and going forward - is access to patient health care through expanded telemedicine capabilities.
 I’ve posted before regarding the Coronavirus, but wanted to address some questions I am getting from my MS patients who are taking medications that suppress their immune system and what is their risk and what should they do?
 The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the rapidly spreading Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, acknowledging what has seemed clear for some time — the virus will likely spread to all countries on the globe. And, as we heard during the recent presidential address, the news at home is not good.
 I wonder if everyone struggles with self-care as much as I do. Life is so hectic and there never seems to be a free minute to add one more thing to the list. We know that time is the problem. We are wired to always be doing the next thing…and that we can never do enough although it appears this is our “existential quest.” But in the process, how can we ever be compassionate to ourselves?
 According to a recent report, the rates of early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) now affects a growing number of younger, commercially insured Americans.
 We are halfway through one of the deadliest flu seasons in the last decade and yet few of us seemed to notice or care. We paid very little attention to the risks and took almost no special precautions. The flu vaccine was a complete failure, but no one is doing much talking about that either. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that from October 2019 through February 22, 2020 there have been 35 million cases of seasonal influenza, with 300,000 hospitalizations and approximately 30,000 deaths.
 We know – it’s impossible to pick up a newspaper, watch the news or check our social media without the latest updates regarding the current coronavirus situation in this country and around the world.
It has been said that “every newly emerging disease begins with a mystery,” and yet the cause of Nodding Syndrome (NS) remains elusive after over a decade of searching.  Nodding Syndrome (NS), originating deep in the remote jungles of East Africa, is a neurological disorder characterized by seizures, cognitive decline, behavioral and language impairment, muscle weakness, physical wasting and stunted growth. Many thousands of children have been affected by the disease’s devastating impact, resulting in lifelong physical challenges as well as
 We all know that exercise is needed for a multitude of health reasons. But our often-sedentary lifestyles now as compared to years past have clearly taken a toll on our bodies: for the first time in U.S. history, younger generations are expected to live shorter, unhealthier lives than their parents. That’s a statistic that is truly frightening on a number of levels from worrying about the fate of future generations to realizing the impact that more chronic illnesses will have on an overwhelmed healthcare system.
 It is estimated that 25 to 50 million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases - one million alone have multiple sclerosis (MS). But I have always said that no one just walks in the door and gets MS. So we must look at the root cause of this and any disease to best provide a treatment plan with real benefits.
 Helen Fisher is a biological anthropologist who has studied love for decades. She is sometimes referred to as "Dr. Love" and is a leading expert and the most referenced scholar on the science of love and attraction. In her profound discoveries, she tells us that our human evolution has created brain circuitry wired for romantic love and for deep, profound attachment to another individual. These are the very hallmarks of humanity.
Love is in our DNA.  We already have on our website information for “how to beat the flu,” but people have been asking what to do when they travel so I wanted to share some additional information here.
I was actually just on a flight this past weekend and noticed quite a bit of coughing and sneezing, which isn’t all that unusual for this time of year. But with so much in the headlines right now about the outbreak of the coronavirus, it’s understandable that people are even more concerned – and scared - about any signs of illness.  Someone asked me last week what I thought of the “crazy” (their word, not mine) theories about 5G technology. The term 5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile technology with its advertised promises of faster browsing, streaming, and download speeds, as well as better connectivity. Sounds like a good thing…right?
“Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh, a Buddhist monk, author and mindfulness teacher  Have you given much thought to how we seem to be racing through our days and our lives? Just look at how we spend our time in a quest for immediate gratification, where everything is available at the click of a button. Most of us live with constant stimulation of our senses and resulting stress. We’ve become experts in multitasking, but to what end? The average
 Why are we here? What is our greater purpose? And what is the meaning of life? Existential questions such as these are more than captivating, they are considered to be fundamental to the human condition.
 Increasing evidence over the last 20 years has shown us that hemostatic abnormalities (either a propensity for bleeding or clotting) are not only important in vascular dementia, but also in patients with Alzheimer's dementia. And we know that there is tremendous crossover in these dementia types. Of all the hemostatic markers, serum fibrinogen has been the one most commonly studied.
 This recent article in JAMA Neurology, authored by Dr. Matthew J. Burke, shines light on an ongoing and increasing epidemic in our medical world. Patients with serious neurological complaints (especially if they already carry a psych-related diagnosis) are termed "non-organic" or functional neurological cases - or, even worse, just plain crazy.
 It’s often been said that we are in control of our destiny. In reflecting upon this idea, I think we have to look to research that has in fact shown a bidirectional communication between the mind and the body – and that one can certainly influence the other, especially in the case of chronic illnesses.
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AuthorDr. Suzanne Gazada, Integrative Neurology Archives
July 2020
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