What is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that causes brain cells to die and areas of the brain to shrink. This affects parts of the brain that control memory thinking and language. This disease usually worsens over time and can make it hard for people to do Read more…
Genetics of Intracranial Tumors What are Intracranial Tumors? Intracranial tumors, or brain tumors, are cell growths that occur inside the brain. There are different types of brain tumors and they can vary by size and location. These growths can be hard to manage and can lead to problems with how Read more…
Genetics of Neurofibromatosis What is Neurofibromatosis? Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a condition that someone can be born with and it makes lumps or non-cancer tumors grow on nerves. These tumors can be seen on or under the skin. It can also cause damage to the skin, eyes, bones, and Read more…
Epilepsy is a “seizure disorder.” If you have epilepsy, your brain activity can become abnormal. You can have a rush of electrical activity in your brain that affects your body. That effect on your body is the seizure. Seizures can look different in different people. -You may have fast, jerking Read more…
Proteins are molecules in our bodies. They do all kinds of jobs. They support us. Help us digest our food. Protect us from harmful bacteria and viruses. Pass messages. And many other things. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center want to study proteins that pass messages. The proteins are like Read more…
An aneurysm [An-you-riz-im] is a bulge in a blood vessel. It forms if we have a weak spot in a blood vessel wall. An aneurysm can happen in a blood vessel in our heart. Or behind our knee. In our intestine. Or in our brain. You may have symptoms. Or Read more…
A stroke is when the blood supply to part of your brain gets cut off or reduced. This means oxygen and nutrients do not get to that part of the brain. Within minutes, brain cells start to die. You want to seek treatment as fast as you can. Early treatment Read more…
Chiari [key-AH-ree] malformations happen when your brain does not all fit in your skull. Your skull may be too small. Or, it is not shaped right. So, part of your brain goes into your spinal canal. This is the space in the middle of your backbone. There are three types. Read more…
Delirium describes a state of confusion. People with delirium cannot think clearly. They have a hard time paying attention. They may not understand what is going on around them. They may also see or hear things that are not there. People who are in the hospital sometimes get delirium. Two Read more…
Concussions are a type of brain injury that changes the way your brain works. Concussions can happen if you get a hard hit to your head, or your head is violently shaken. They are common in contact sports, like football. They can also happen if you fall and hit your Read more…