Apoplectic Aphasia Treated by Collaterals-Pricking and Bleeding Method

Case Example The Patient, male, 68 Years Old, had A Sudden Seizure Of Hemiplegia On The Right Body, deviation Of The Eye And Mouth, aphasia And Salivation After Getting Up In The Morning, and Was Sent To The Hospital Immediately, and Was Diagnosed With Cerebral Infarction After Examination And Was Treated Upon Diagnosis For Over Month. Hemiplegia In The Limbs And Deviation Of The Eye And Mouth Had Been Relieved, but Aphasia Was Still There.

Say What?

At the risk of admitting the extent to which I devour pop culture, the first time I was introduced to the concept of aphasia was during an episode of House. The patient on the episode spoke rambled nonsense and was diagnosed with Wernicke’s Aphasia (speaking illogical sentences) and Agraphia (the inability to write rationally). Being the omnipotent doctor that House is, he was able to replace the illogical words for what the patient meant to say and found a way to communicate. While I am ignorant enough to believe a lot of the show (and the consequent hundreds of thousands of dollars in MRI’s) as plausible, I needed to investigate this peculiar neurological disorder for myself.

Translational Research in Aphasia: From Neuroscience to Neurorehabilitation

Purpose: In this article, the authors encapsulate discussions of the Language Work Group that took place as part of the Workshop in Plasticity/NeuroRehabilitation Research at the University of Florida in April 2005.

Method: In this narrative review, they define neuroplasticity and review studies that demonstrate neural changes associated with aphasia recovery and treatment. The authors then summarize basic science evidence from animals, human cognition, and computational neuroscience that is relevant to aphasia treatment research. They then turn to the aphasia treatment literature in which evidence exists to support several of the neuroscience principles.

Hypertensive Patients Not Following Diets, Corneal Transplantation & Risk of Infection, Link Found Between Speech and Learning Disabilities

(February 11, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From Mississippi - Despite evidence of the importance of dietary modification for the management of high blood pressure, patients with the condition are not complying. Over a decade ago, research showed that a diet high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products could significantly lower blood pressure. But researchers analyzing data from over 4000 hypertensive patients showed that only 19% regularly follow this diet - down 7% from a decade ago.

From Houston - The source of corneal donation may influence the risk of a post-operative infection in cases of corneal transplantation. In a study of nearly 500,000 corneas distributed by the Eye Bank Association of America, serious eye infections occurred in 3 cases per 10,000. When donor tissue came from hospitalized patients the risk of infection was 3 times higher and if the patient suffered from cancer the risk was twice as high.

And finally, from Chicago - Patients with a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects speech report a significantly higher likelihood of having previously had a learning disability. In a study of nearly 700 patients, half of whom had Alzheimer's disease, dementia or primary progressive aphasia, those with progressive aphasia were 10 times more likely to report having had a learning disability when compared to controls - particularly dyslexia.

Arts and Aphasia

We are planning a "Celebration of Aphasia" at a locally based venue in 2008 and are looking for talented people from all over the UK to perform -

Would you like to be involved in a theatre performance by people who suffer aphasia?

If you live locally you could get involved in small group rehearsals of bell ringing and/or Eurythmy movement.

Or do you write you own poetry, play an instrument, or you sing?

Don't by shy, contact us and tell us about your [hidden] talents!

We will also facilitate an exhibition for the visual arts !

Columnist earns moment in spotlight

By LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer

Columnist earns moment in spotlight

TMP Photo by Kelly Hite. Kathy Hoover relaxes in the sun room of the home she grew up in. Since her stroke, she spends time reading and keeping up with current events in the colorful room.
Newspaper columnist Kathy Hoover wrote about and took photographs of the beautiful people at the fund-raising balls and galas for almost 20 years in Rutherford County.

Now Hoover delivers a more important message — “keep a better handle on your health” by a heart-healthy lifestyle and routine physicals with doctors.

Hoover, 52, of Murfreesboro, took her health for granted until a stroke drastically changed her lifestyle two years ago. She suffers from aphasia, a brain injury that affects speech, language and communications. She lost sight in one eye, so she can’t drive and she lost some use of her hands, so it’s difficult to write.....

Smart Combat Helmet Is Goal Of Researchers

University of Illinois researchers are pooling their knowledge of health sciences and engineering on a project that ultimately could benefit combat soldiers who’ve received serious – but often immediately undetectable – blast-related brain injuries.

The project will focus on the use of the latest communications technology to transfer real-time blast-injury data to first responders. Leading the investigation is Kenneth Watkin, a professor of speech and hearing science in the College of Applied Health Sciences who also holds appointments in the U. of I.’s Beckman Institute and Information Trust Institute, and Ravi Iyer, the director of the College of Engineering’s Coordinated Science Laboratory and ITI chief scientist. Co-investigators are ITI associates and professors of electrical and computer engineering Zbigniew Kalbarczyk, Janek Patel, William H. Sanders and Mark Spong.....

Northstar Neuroscience shares sink 85%; Jefferies downgrades to underperform

NEW YORK, Jan 23, 2008 (Thomson Financial via COMTEX) -- NSTR | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Shares of Northstar Neuroscience Inc. sank to an all-time low Tuesday after the company said its Everest trial evaluating cortical stimulation to improve hand and arm function in stroke survivors failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint.Next....

With Love from the Libraries - Winners Announced!

How does Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet compare to Speech and Language Pathology or even Psychology? A couple of UI graduate students were able to make the case for the With Love from the Libraries contest.

Patricia Grieg, a graduate student in Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology compared the communication breakdowns between Romeo and Juliet and their families and the communication difficulties of stroke patients suffering from aphasia. For her entry, Patricia won first prize - two tickets to dinner and a performance of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at Hancher.

Digg

W
Washington, Feb 12 (ANI): A new study has found that learning disabilities are associated with language problems later in life.


A new study has found that learning disabilities are associated with language problems later in life.

The study, conducted by Emily Rogalski, Ph.D., then at Northwestern University and now at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and colleagues, found that individuals with a neurodegenerative condition affecting language appear more likely to have had a history of learning disabilities than those with other types of dementia or with no cognitive problems.

The condition, known as primary progressive aphasia, causes individuals to lose language abilities as they age, even though their other brain functions appear unaffected for at least the first two years.

For the study, the research team examined a group of 699 individuals, 108 with primary progressive aphasia, 154 with Alzheimer's disease, 84 with a related disorder known as frontotemporal dementia and 353 controls without dementia.

During their enrolment, participants completed a detailed demographic and medical history interview that included two questions about whether they or immediate family members had a history of learning disabilities.

The team conducted a medical record review for the 23 individuals with primary progressive aphasia who reported either a personal or family history of learning disability.

The researchers found that patients with primary progressive aphasia were more likely to have had learning disabilities or a close family member with learning disabilities than were those with other forms of dementia or without dementia.

The review of patients with both aphasia and learning disabilities showed families with unusually high rates of learning problems, especially dyslexia.

The study suggests that some individuals or families may have an underlying susceptibility to difficulties with the language network.

"This relationship may exist in only a small subgroup of persons with dyslexia without necessarily implying that the entire population with dyslexia or their family members are at higher risk of primary progressive aphasia," the authors said.

The study is published in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (ANI)

Learning Disabilities May Presage Later Language Problems

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Learning Disabilities May Presage Later Language Problems
02.12.08, 12:00 AM ET

TUESDAY, Feb. 12 (HealthDay News) -- People with a personal or family history of learning disabilities may be more at risk for a rare type of dementia that causes them to lose language abilities as they age, according to a new report.

The condition, known as primary progressive aphasia, causes language abilities to be slowly and progressively impaired, even though the person's other brain functions appear unaffected for at least the first two years, according to background information for the article in the February issue of Archives of Neurology.

Although risk factors for Alzheimer's disease have been well studied, much less is known about risk factors for primary progressive aphasia, the authors wrote.

Researchers, led by Emily Rogalski, then of Northwestern University and now of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, studied 699 people -- about half with no dementia and the other half with either primary progressive aphasia, Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder known as frontotemporal dementia.

Patients with primary progressive aphasia were more likely to have had learning disabilities or a close family member with learning disabilities than were those with other forms of dementia or without dementia. The review of patients with both aphasia and learning disabilities showed families with unusually high rates of learning problems, especially dyslexia.

For example, in three cases, nine of the 10 children of the participants were reported to have had a history of specific learning disability in the area of language, the authors wrote.

"In our clinical practice, we encounter many patients with primary progressive aphasia who report that spelling was never their strong suit or that they could not learn new languages, but who would not have identified themselves as having a learning disability," they continued.

The association suggests that some people or families may have an underlying susceptibility to difficulties with the language network.

"This relationship may exist in only a small subgroup of persons with dyslexia without necessarily implying that the entire population with dyslexia or their family members are at higher risk of primary progressive aphasia," the authors concluded.