Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington's disease, have no known cure. Interventions such as a healthy diet and regular exercise have in place been widely encouraged in order to delay onset or slow progression of symptoms. Yoga is one form of physical exercise that has been shown to positively impact the neuromorphology in the brain by increasing gray matter volume and stimulating the hippocampus to lower stress levels and improve memory retention. This review focuses on the effects of Yoga practice on the brain and its potential as a productive, noninvasive, and affordable practice for brain stimulation that could impact incurable neurodegenerative diseases.
Amoebiasis is one of the leading causes of death from parasitic disease worldwide, but it is rarely heard about in the United States. The disease is caused by a protist, specifically an amoebozoa named Entamoeba histolytica. Infection by this parasite is most common in underdeveloped countries and invades hosts by the fecal-oral route, secreting enzymes and using its pseudopods to tear apart human cells in the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, they can penetrate the gut lining and migrate through the bloodstream to other vital organs. This can lead to bloody diarrhea, as well as abscesses in the liver, lungs, or brain, which may ultimately result in death.
Parkinson’s disease is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease that affects about 572/100,000 North Americans ages 45 and older. Typical treatment of symptoms includes dopaminergic medications, such as Levodopa; however, some patients cannot tolerate the side effects or do not experience symptom reduction. In these cases, more invasive treatments must be considered by treating clinicians. This review aims to evaluate the current evidence for proper treatment parameters for gait impairment, with particular focus on subthalamic deep brain stimulation—an invasive yet effective treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Retinal migraines are characterized by episodes of transient monocular visual impairment combined with typical migraine symptoms. These disturbances include numbness or temporary loss of sensation, muscle weakness, impaired or temporary loss of vision, or difficulty in comprehending speech. This literature review examines the underlying characteristics of retinal migraines concerning their retinal vasculature and retinal nerve fibers.
In powerlifting, marginal advantages over competitors may be the difference between winning and losing. As such, many training methods have been developed to maximize strength output. One such approach is blood flow restriction training (BFRT), which high-repetition exercise with restriction cuffs that effectively restrict blood flow to working muscles, thus increasing mechanical tension and metabolic stress. The efficacy of clinical low-load BFRT for post-op patient rehabilitation has long been acknowledged and utilized. However, there is currently little research on the application of this method in heavy-load training programs. Hence, this review will investigate the effects of BFRT on maximal strength, muscle hypertrophy, and the relationship between AOP and different limb circumferences.
With the increasing risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases in older adults in the U.S., alternative methods of preventing further cognitive decline have become a topic of interest. Exergaming, a form of exercise that combines physical exercise with mental stimulation, has been shown to improve the cognitive function of older adults. However, the methods of analyzing the specific cognitive benefits of exergames and their further implications have been widely varied. This review examines the different methods used in research studies that analyze the effects of exergaming on cognitive function in older adults and discusses future implications in preventing cognitive decline.
Popular interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) target behavioral, educational, and socio-relational improvement. To reduce the workload of human therapists, robots have been used in recent years to record behaviors, engage children, and adapt levels of treatment. This review analyzes studies done on the interaction of NAO, the most popular robot in ASD interventions due to its humanoid shape and high capabilities in verbal and non-verbal communication, with human therapists, parents, and children to improve joint attention, motor skills, and prosocial behaviors of children with ASD.
From vacuuming floors in homes to serving food in restaurants, robots have become suffused into our daily lives. Now, robots have a new function in our healthcare system, as behavioral therapists for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Pathologies that arise during critical stages of infant brain development such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have no known causes. While infant trials are scarce, preliminary mice trials have proven associations between neurological pathologies and gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM). Presently, research on the human gut-brain axis connection has found similarities to these mice models. This review will critically examine recent studies which associate GIM with developmental benchmarks in infants.
Diabetes is a disease that disproportionately affects Filipinos, as they have one of the highest rates of diabetes diagnoses compared to other ethnicities. Current established strategies to lessen diabetes symptoms today are underutilized by Filipinos because of cost and inaccessibility. This review focuses on what the current literature reveals about new strategies that are being developed to lower rates of diabetes in the Filipino community. Furthermore, it explores the effectiveness of each new strategy and how they compare to previously established ones.
