Neurosciences

Exercise is key for maintaining physical and mental health. Studies show that it positively affects health even if started later in life. Some suggest that exercise improves cognition by inducing long-term changes in the hippocampus, such as increased volume and an increased rate of neuronal formation. How exactly exercise changes the hippocampus, however, remains unknown. Understanding more about how … Read More

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a heart condition characterized by irregular beating in the upper chambers of the heart that reduces blood flow to the lower chambers. Afib can cause discomfort in patients and increase stroke risk by five times. In 2019, AFib was mentioned on 183,321 death certificates in the United States. Estimates state that the condition will affect 12.1 … Read More

Just look at that gorgeous person in the mirror! The one with the infectious smile and inspiring moxie. Don’t see that person? Well, that’s OK. Sometimes it takes a little work to recognize them. “Self-love is not always an easy thing to achieve but fostering a positive self-image can improve your physical and psychological well-being,” … Read More

This Sunday it’s time for the start of daylight saving time, so clocks will spring forward an hour. And if you get a case of the Mondays following the start of daylight saving time, there may actually be medical evidence for it. Not only are we losing an hour of sleep by springing forward, but … Read More

You wouldn’t hike barefoot (we hope). So why would you bike, skate, play football or ride a horse without a helmet? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1.5 million Americans survive a traumatic brain injury every year, and 176 people a day die from TBI. “There is no such thing as … Read More

A futuristic vaccine to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is in the works right here in Southern California. And it won’t even involve needles. Researcher Michael Agadjanyan at the Institute for Molecular Medicine in Huntington Beach, along with David Sultzer from UCI MIND and Lon Schneider from USC, received a $12 million grant from the National Institute … Read More

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (March 2, 2023) – Hoag’s Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute has started enrolling participants for a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of a first-of-its-kind Alzheimer’s disease vaccine. The hope is that the vaccine will eventually be used to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in healthy people who are at risk. Hoag … Read More

Actor Bruce Willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, a group of brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain. Initially, Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia, but when his symptoms worsened it clarified the diagnosis of FTD. “Bruce Willis is such a relatable actor, it is … Read More

It is OK to feel… Remember where you were when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded? Or when President Kennedy was assassinated? Or when the second plane hit the Twin Towers, making it clear that what you were seeing was no accident? Bearing witness to trauma leaves a psychological mark, and the players, coaches and teammates … Read More

If you notice a loved one becoming forgetful, you may worry that they have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. But these conditions are not the same, says Dr. Aaron Ritter, a dementia expert who directs the Memory & Cognitive Disorders Program at Hoag Hospital. “Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease that causes a group of symptoms that usually … Read More