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Interviews + Research


Huntington’s Disease Successfully Treated with Gene Therapy in Clinical Trial
By Owen Smith Huntington’s disease, a genetic neurodegenerative disorder, has been successfully treated for the first time in a clinical trial using a one-time gene therapy. This progressive disease involves motor, psychiatric, and cognitive decline, and is eventually fatal. The Amsterdam-based gene therapy company uniQue reported that 29 subjects in the early stages of Huntington’s related cognitive decline who received the treatment saw the disease’s progression slow by 75%


Why Sleep Deprivation Makes Migraines Worse
Migraines are more than just headaches—they often come with nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and throbbing pain. Many people with migraines say that poor sleep makes things worse. But until recently, scientists didn’t know exactly why. A recently published study uncovered part of the answer: sleep loss changes how the migraine brain processes pain. Baystate Health, 2025 The researchers recruited both migraine sufferers and healthy participants. Each person then went


Neural Recovery Mechanisms After Traumatic Brain Injury
The brain's ability to structurally and functionally reorganize after damage is a key area of study in modern neurobiological research, and understanding the mechanisms underlying these changes are key to treating traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) such as strokes, concussions, and lesions. Instead of repairing damaged tissue, neural recovery instead primarily involves behavioral compensation and adaptive plasticity. More specifically, undamaged parts of brain structures can inc


Brain-computer interfaces and their potential for restoring motor function in paralysis
Developed in the late 20th century, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have undergone advancements in machine learning, which have revolutionized research in the field of cognitive rehabilitation (Birbaumer, 2007). BCIs are systems that enable direct communication between the brain and a device, bypassing established neural pathways. In healthcare, the system translates the brain's commands to control external technologies (e.g. prosthetics) to minimize the impact of a traumat


Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects both movement and many other aspects of health. While it is best known for its motor symptoms, such as tremors, muscle stiffness (rigidity), and slowness of movement (bradykinesia), it also causes a range of non-motor symptoms, such as cognitive impairments, depression, and sleep disturbances. Currently, Parkinson’s disease is typically diagnosed only after obvious symptoms appear, at which point a signif


Intracranial Pressure Management
ICP Management Background Intracranial pressure (ICP) is the pressure exerted by fluids in the cranial vault, composed of the brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). When the volume of any of the three components rises, the intracranial pressure increases, leading to a decrease in blood flow to the brain. Treatment is typically necessary when ICP exceeds 20 mmHg. Causes and Complications of Increased ICP Increased ICP can result from brain injuries such as stroke


Understanding Brain "Storms" in Neurodegenerative Diseases
When we think of diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, we usually think of memory loss or shaky hands. However, recent research shows that these diseases also cause "electrical storms" in the brain. The Brain’s "On Switch" (Hyperexcitability) Inside the brain, nerve cells talk to each other using electricity. In a healthy brain, these signals are carefully balanced. However, researchers have found that a specific genetic change called the A53T mutation acts like an "on sw


How Music Affects Brain Connectivity
Overview Music has several effects on our brain; From therapy for mental illnesses, to just triggering certain physical or emotional...


Biomedical material in TBI
The brain’s intricate networks and complex pathology make it challenging for regulatory bodies like the FDA to approve long-term drug...


AI in Brain Injury Recovery
Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the medical industry, particularly in brain injury recovery. In the past...


Memory: How Our Minds Store, Recall, and Forget
What is memory? Memory is the process of retaining information to guide future actions, primarily taking place in the brain’s...


Music and Memory
Conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other cognitive challenges can often impact one’s memory, thinking, behaviours, and...


Glial Cells Types
Glial cells are a category of non-neuronal (not voltage excitable) cells in the nervous system which perform various support roles. There...
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by instability in mood, behavior, self-image, and...
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Overview Diffuse axonal injury, DAI, is one of the most prominent factors of brain injury. It occurs when the brain rotates and shifts...
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is used to describe brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. It is a very rare...
A Review on Treatments for Seizures and Epilepsy
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases and is characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures due to excessive...


Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that negatively impacts the body’s nerves which can lead to muscle weakness, loss of...
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