RedScrubs
The Resource for Medical Professionals

“While scientists are busy conducting research and not talking to one another, ethnobotanists are collecting real-world data that can help your brain survive the onslaught of aging and the 21st century.”

Read the whole blog to find out what the nine neuroprotective agents are, suggested dosages and perceived mechanisms of action of each agent.

“Grandpa had been gradually declining from Alzheimer’s dementia for years (he was confined to bed and he could no longer communicate with his family), but on this visit, after he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia for the second time in a few months, it was clear he was now also having difficulty swallowing (dysphagia in medical terms). Grandpa was choking on the simplest of foods, including liquids and pureed foods, when he was tested by the speech therapist. Even when slowly fed small spoonfuls he wasn’t safe to eat.”
Continue reading. . . this blog discusses real end-of-life issues in a realistic, yet compassionate manner. Living with a percutaneous endoscopic g-tube (PEG) brings on its own issues on quality of life vs. length of life. Every family is different and each family has their own issues and priorities in life. This was an insightful blog into one family’s struggle with Alzheimers, swallowing problems (dysphagia) and feeding tubes.

We still hear a lot about the “autism epidemic”. I suppose it’s only to be expected, since it is repeated so often and by so many people. And clearly, there has been an increase - a steady increase - in the number of children reported as “autistic” by educational sources and social service providers.
But is it a real epidemic?
This is a serious question because, if the rise in autism prevalence is real, then we need to find out why? Likewise, if the “autism epidemic” is an artifact of changes in awareness, diagnostic criteria, social implications, etc., then we should stop expending time, effort and - most of all - money trying to find the cause.
This blog covers the above information in five graphs, easy to understand and the opinion just as easy to comprehend.

Diagnosed cases of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, are estimated to be 4.4 million children in the US between the ages of 4-17. Boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with this condition than boys. And, 60% of those diagnosed with it as children will still have it as adults.
Last week a study done on a mere 17 individuals concluded that they had the “perfect” treatment for ADHD. Besides the small sample size, this poorly designed test used an assessment test that was not well founded in research as their sole method of measurement when other good and more reliable tests were available.
This blog covers the background of this “state of the art” study and tears it to shreds. The concluding remarks were focused on the fact that the researchers had to throw out 3 of the 4 measures they were using to measure their results. The dropout rate was 32% meaning this perfect technique will be useless in 1 out of 3 children it’s tried on.

Anti-depressants eventually can alleviate depression, but oft is the case where it is a trial and error process. NIH researchers used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study insight into depression. They discovered that the use of a brain scan can predict reaction to an antidepressant. Perhaps the roller-coaster of trial and error with the use of a panorama of antidepressants to see which one works with which patient will finally become more of a quick and easy process. Future studies should be able to chart the wide variety of reactions and then use scans and other tests to skip blanket remedies and move directly to the most effective treatment for the individual.