Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in maintaining a healthy mind and body. Discover what exercise can do to increase the production of this important protein, keeping you mentally sharp and strong!
Could just six minutes of high-intensity exercise lead to improvements in your brain? Recent research suggests it can!
Studies have found that even short bursts of intense physical activity can increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels.
BDNF is a protein that helps keep neurons healthy and plays an important role in forming memories, learning new things, and regulating moods.
It also plays a role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Travis Gibbons from the University of Otago, New Zealand, says BDNF has shown great promise in animal models, but pharmaceutical interventions have so far failed to fully exploit it. security its protective power in humans.
In this study, 12 physically active volunteers were put through three tests to see which was better at generating BDNF in the brain: 20 hours of fasting, 90 minutes of medium-intensity cycling, or 6 minutes of intense cycling.
If you’re looking to increase your production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a study has found that intense, short cycling sessions yield the best results.
After completing a 15-minute biking session with sprints, the participants in the study saw their BDNF levels jump by four to five times what they were after a light exercise.
How can exercise boost BDNF?
The next question is to know the mechanism of action.
Exercise is thought to increase levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is a protein that helps to maintain and promote the growth of certain neurons in the brain.
Studies have shown that there is a peak in BDNF concentration after intense exercise, which could be due to the natural increase in blood platelets associated with exercise, as they store high levels of BDNF.
The research team is now keen to perform more experiments, such as adding three days of fasting, to see how this affects blood BDNF levels. The combined effects of fasting and intense exercise are another potential avenue to explore.
Exercise has been widely recognized to promote mental health and cognitive functioning, and now new findings suggest that it may be linked to increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Research conducted at the University of Otago found that intense physical activity can lead to an increase in BDNF levels. While exercise is widely accessible and inexpensive, this latest study provides another incentive for people to get moving!
Atkinson and Shiffrin’s 1968 model of memory outlines that memory consists of three distinct forms: sensory memory, short-term memory and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the brief storage of information from our senses – sight, sound, touch, etc. Short-term or working memory stores limited amounts of information for a short time, while long-term memory is the repository for any information that needs to be remembered over a long period of time.
Sensory memory
Sensory memory refers to the ability of our senses to remember small amounts of information almost instantaneously. This type of memory, sometimes referred to as iconic or echoic memory, was first proposed by psychologists in his 1968 model, but was later added into their research.
This information therefore stores in our sensory memory which retains it for a very short period of time.
Duration: ¼ to ½ second
Short-term memory
Short-term memory (STM), as proposed by the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, is the second stage of memory.
It is a short-term storage system in which information that has been acquired through physical or emotional stimuli is temporarily held and can then be used for specific tasks or stored in long-term memory.
STM duration seems to be between 15 and 30 seconds and capacity around 7 items.
The magic number 7 (plus or minus two) provides evidence of short-term memory capacity. Most adults can store between 5 and 9 items in their short-term memory.
Long-term memory
Long-term memory is the capacity for humans to store information over extended periods of time. It is a component of the Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model which describes how memories are encoded, stored and recalled.
Long-term memory allows us to retain information and skills for an indefinite period of time and form meaningful connections between different concepts that can help with understanding complex topics better.
Theoretically, the capacity of long-term memory could be unlimited, with the main constraint to recall being accessibility rather than availability.
The duration can be a few minutes or a lifetime. The suggested coding modes are semantic (meaning) and visual (pictorial) but can also be acoustic.
Six minutes d’exercice de haute intensité suffisent pour produire le BDNF, une protéine clé du cerveau. Cette protéine est importante dans la formation, le fonctionnement et la mémoire du cerveau.
Elle joue également un rôle dans la progression de maladies neurodégénératives telles que la maladie d’Alzheimer.
La protéine spécialisée en question est appelée facteur neurotrophique dérivé du cerveau (BDNF), et elle favorise à la fois la croissance et la survie des cellules neuronales dans le cerveau, ainsi que le développement de nouveaux liens et voies de signalisation.
Le physiologiste Travis Gibbons de l’Université d’Otago (Nouvelle-Zélande), affirme que le BDNF s’est révélé très prometteur sur des modèles animaux, mais que les interventions pharmaceutiques n’ont jusqu’à présent pas réussi à exploiter en toute sécurité son pouvoir protecteur chez l’homme.
« Nous avons vu la nécessité d’examiner des moyens non pharmacologiques de maintenir la capacité du cerveau à augmenter naturellement le BDNF pour aider à vieillir en bonne santé. »
Dans cette étude, 12 volontaires physiquement actifs ont été soumis à trois tests pour voir lequel était le meilleur pour générer du BDNF dans le cerveau: 20 heures de jeûne, 90 minutes de vélo d’intensité moyenne ou 6 minutes intenses de vélo.
Une séance brève, mais intense de vélo a donné les meilleurs résultats en termes de production de BDNF. Les niveaux sanguins de BDNF ont augmenté de quatre ou cinq fois, par rapport à un exercice léger.
La question suivante est de connaître le mécanisme d’action. Un moyen pratique de garder le cerveau en bonne santé et de le protéger contre la maladie pourrait être obtenu avec un exercice de haute intensité.
Il est possible que l’augmentation des plaquettes sanguines qui se produit naturellement avec l’exercice explique ces résultats. Les plaquettes stockent une grande quantité de BDNF, ce qui pourrait expliquer le pic qui coïncide après un exercice intense.
L’équipe de chercheurs est maintenant désireuse de réaliser plus d’expériences, tel par exemple, ajouter trois jours entiers de jeûne, pour voir comment cela affecte les niveaux de BDNF dans le sang. Les effets combinés du jeûne et de l’exercice intense sont une autre avenue potentielle à explorer.
Nous avons maintenant de nombreuses études reliant l’exercice avec des avantages qui peuvent être observés dans le cerveau, qu’il s’agisse d’améliorer la concentration ou d’améliorer la fonction cognitive. Il est probable qu’il y ait de nombreuses autres découvertes à venir.
« Il devient de plus en plus clair que l’exercice profite à la santé du cerveau à tous les stades de la vie », explique Kate Thomas, physiologiste et auteur de l’étude à l’Université d’Otago.
« Ces données montrent une avenue par laquelle l’exercice intense peut jouer un rôle. Heureusement, l’exercice est largement accessible et abordable.
Several diseases can cause numbness in the hands. Numbness, weakness, and painful tingling may also happen when a person’s hands feel numb.
The following are some of the possible causes of numbness in a person’s hands, accompanying symptoms, and some treatment options:
Cardiovascular disorders
Following cardiovascular diseases may cause numbness in the hands.
Heart attack
A heart attack can cause tingling and numbness in one hand.
If a person has a suspected heart attack, they or someone close to them should seek emergency medical help.
Blockage of blood flow to the heart can cause chest pain as well as tingling and numbness in one arm or the other.
Symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
nausea
sweat
shortness of breath
dizziness
tingling and numbness on either side of the body
shoulder pain
unexplained tiredness
Treatment
Treatment includes admission to a hospital, where a specialist can diagnose and possibly reopen the blocked heart artery.
Stroke
An interruption in blood flow to the brain — potentially due to a blood clot or a ruptured artery causing bleeding in the brain — can lead to a stroke.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
confusion
difficulty maintaining balance
visual problems
speech problems
Treatment
If a person has a suspected stroke, they or someone close to them should seek emergency medical attention, which may involve the administration of anti-clot medications.
Vascular disorders
The following vascular conditions can cause numbness in the hands.
Vasculitis
Vasculitis is a condition in which the immune system attacks and causes blood vessels to become inflamed.
Symptoms
The symptoms vary depending on the area of the body affected by vasculitis.
Some symptoms may include:
fatigue
fever
weightloss
night sweats
eruption
nerve problems, such as numbness or weakness
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the vasculitis and may include steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.
Raynaud’s disease
Raynaud’s disease causes temporary narrowing of the arteries that direct blood to the fingers and toes.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in the fingers, as well as a change in appearance of the fingers and toes becoming pale blue or white.
Treatment
Learning to avoid common triggers of illness — such as cold, stress, and certain medications — can help relieve symptoms.
Neurological disorders
The following neurological disorders can cause numbness in the hands.
Brachial plexus injury
The brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves that stretch from the spine to each shoulder. This network transmits signals between the spine and the shoulders, arms and hands.
Shoulder injuries, tumors, and other causes of inflammation can all lead to brachial plexus injury, which can lead to numbness in a person’s hand.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
severe shoulder or arm pain
numbness in the hands
weakness and difficulty moving the arms
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Some people can recover without further intervention, while others may require surgery or physical therapy.
Fibromyalgia
This condition affects nerve function and causes chronic pain, which can lead to tingling and numbness that may closely resemble that of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
pain in multiple areas of the body, which may include the hands
fatigue
headache
difficulty sleeping
depression
stomach problems
Treatment
Treatment options for fibromyalgia include physical activity, as it can help relieve pain and improve sleep. A doctor may also prescribe antidepressant or anticonvulsant treatment.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy may be beneficial for those whose condition does not respond sufficiently to medication.
Spinal cord injury
Trauma from spinal cord injury can lead to tingling and numbness in the hands and feet. Falls, traffic accidents, blows to the head, gunshot wounds, and several other events can all cause spinal cord injuries.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary depending on the exact area of the body affected by the injury. They may include:
movement affected
loss of sensation
loss of large bowel and bladder control
pain
Treatment
Treatments include supportive therapy and surgery when possible.
Some experimental treatments may give people with spinal cord injury a better chance of regaining function.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
This disease results from excessive stretching or pressure on the ulnar nerve.
Symptoms
Symptoms, particularly in the ring and little finger, may include:
numbness
weakness
tingling
Treatment
Treatment may include wearing a splint while sleeping to prevent the elbow from bending. Physical therapy, NSAIDs , and surgery to remove or repair any areas of excessive pressure on the elbow may also be potential treatment options.
Musculoskeletal disorders
The following musculoskeletal conditions can cause hand numbness.
Cervical spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis is also known as osteoarthritis of the neck. This disease occurs when degeneration affects the discs or joints of the neck.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects about 1% of people of working age. It occurs when one of the nerves running through the carpal tunnel in the wrist is compressed.
Symptoms
Hand symptoms may include:
pain
tingling
weakness
affected grip strength
Treatment
Wearing a splint and resting the wrist and hand can help. Sometimes a doctor may also recommend surgery to reduce pressure on the carpal tunnel.
Ganglion cyst
Ganglion cysts are soft bumps that develop in joints around the body. They can cause pain or numbness in the hand.
According to an article in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association , up to 70% of ganglion cysts occur in the wrist.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include a round or oval-shaped bump on the wrist or other parts of the body, as well as pain in and around the area.
Treatment
Resting the affected area can help. However, wearing a splint or brace for too long can weaken the muscles in the hand.
Although surgery may be an option for some, these methods may not be completely effective.
According to a review in the Journal of Hand Surgery, researchers predict the risk of a cyst returning after surgery at 21%.
12. Lateral epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, occurs when the tendons that connect the muscles on the sides of the forearm and the bone near the elbow become inflamed.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
pain or burning sensation, often on the outside of the elbow;
weak grip strength;
tingling and numbness in the hand.
Treatment
Most episodes of tennis elbow will resolve with rest, physical therapy, and NSAIDs. However, in severe cases, a doctor may recommend surgery.
Autoimmune diseases
The following autoimmune diseases can cause numbness in the hands.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
This disease can cause the body’s immune system to attack nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. This can lead to muscle weakness.
Symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
feeling of having needles in the hands and feet
imbalance
visual problems
difficulty swallowing
severe pain that gets worse at night
muscle paralysis
Treatment
Although there is currently no cure for Guillain-Barré syndrome, a doctor can treat the condition using immunoglobulin therapy or plasma exchange, also known as plasmapheresis.
These treatments can reduce the body’s immune system response.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS). The immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerve sheaths, which can eventually destroy the CNS nerves.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
numbness and weakness of limbs
electric shock sensations
tremors
unsteady gait
affected vision
cognitive difficulties
Treatment
Treatment includes taking immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids and other disease-modifying therapies.
Later, doctors may also recommend plasmapheresis to reduce the immune system response.
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that mainly attacks the glands that produce tears and saliva.
Some people may also experience tissue or organ damage in other areas of the body.
Symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
dry eyes
dry mouth
itchy skin
a chronic cough
numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
severe fatigue
Treatment
Treatment depends on the symptoms and the area of the body affected by the disease.
For example, a doctor may choose to prescribe eye drops, drugs to increase saliva, NSAIDs, or drugs to suppress the immune system.
Other diseases
The following diseases can also cause numbness in the hands.
Diabetes
The most well-known types of diabetes include:
Type 1 : This type of diabetes develops when the body does not produce insulin.
Type 2 : This type of diabetes occurs when the body does not respond properly to insulin and ultimately does not produce enough.
Gestational diabetes : This form of diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It will usually disappear after delivery.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
a slow and gradual onset of tingling and numbness in the feet and hands
extreme sensitivity to touch or temperature changes
burning or shooting pains in the hands and feet
Treatment
Making certain lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, can help a person maintain stable blood sugar levels.
People with type 1 diabetes may need to inject insulin. Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can be controlled by diet or by beginning treatment with non-insulin medications.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency
A study published in the journal RMJ found that 90% of 110 people with vitamin B-12 deficiency reported numbness and loss of sensation as symptoms.
Symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, and legs
difficulty walking
an inflamed and swollen tongue
difficulty thinking clearly
muscular weakness
fatigue
Treatment
A doctor can prescribe vitamin B-12 supplementation in pill or vaccine form.
Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a medical condition that causes an abnormal buildup of amyloid protein in healthy tissue, which can affect the function of the affected area.
19. Lyme Disease
A tick bite carrying the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi can cause Lyme disease . It is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Lyme disease can closely resemble those of the flu, such as fever, chills, fatigue, and joint pain.
If a person does not receive treatment, they may experience:
joint swelling
an irregular heartbeat
nerve pain
shortness of breath
pain or numbness in the hands and feet
Treatment
Treatment depends on the stage Lyme disease has reached.
Doctors can treat Lyme disease at an early stage with antibiotic therapy. Later-stage Lyme disease may require antibiotics and supportive treatments.
Medication Side Effects
Taking certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, can cause tingling and numbness in the hands.
Treatment
Some people may experience an improvement in symptoms when they stop taking the drugs. However, others may experience permanent tingling and numbness.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a type of brain disease that is likely caused by repeated head trauma. It is diagnosed only during the autopsy by studying the brain.
The disease of chronic traumatized encephalopathy (CTE) is not well understood. It is not related to the immediate consequences of a late episode of head trauma.
Researchers are still investigating how repeated head injuries, including the number of head injuries and the severity of those injuries, and other factors contribute to changes in the brain that lead to CTE.
People who played football and other contact sports, including boxing, have been observed to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It can also occur in military personnel who have been exposed to explosions.
CTE is thought to include impaired cognition and emotion, physical problems, and other behaviors. These are thought to develop years to decades after a head injury.
Except in the few people at high risk, chronic traumatic encephalopathy cannot be diagnosed throughout life. Researchers do not yet know its frequency in the population and do not understand the causes. There is currently no cure.
Symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy
No specific symptoms have been clearly linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Some possible signs and symptoms can occur in many other conditions. There were cognitive, behavioral, mood, and motor changes in the few people diagnosed with encephalopathy.
Cognitive deficit
Difficulty thinking (cognitive disorders)
Memory loss
Problems planning, organizing and performing tasks (executive function)
Behavioral changes
Impulsive behavior
Assault
Mood disorders
Depression or apathy
emotional instability
Substance abuse
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Motor symptoms
Parkinsonism
Motor neuron disease
Researchers believe that symptoms can develop over years or decades after repeated head trauma, even though they don’t develop immediately. Symptoms of encephalopathy appear in two forms. Early in life, between the late 20s and early 30s, the first form of can cause mental health and behavioral problems, including depression, anxiety, impulsiveness, and aggression. The second form is thought to cause symptoms later in life, around age 60. These symptoms include memory and thinking problems that can progress to dementia.
Causes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Repetitive head trauma is likely the cause of CTE. Football and ice hockey players or boxers, as well as military personnel serving in war zones, have been the focus of most studies.
However, not all athletes and those who experience repeated concussions, including military personnel, develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Some studies have shown no increased incidence of encephalopathy in people exposed to repeated head trauma.Some studies question the hypothesis of a link between chronic traumatic encephalopathy and repeated head trauma.
The media have widely reported that chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a neurodegenerative disease often affecting retired athletes who have practiced contact sports (American football or boxing, for example).
An epidemiological study casts doubt on this observation. The previous results of this association would be due to the fact that these athletes have a longer life expectancy and therefore an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Source: Hippocampal Sclerosis in Dementia, Epilepsy, and Ischemic Injury. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 2014; 73 (2): 136.
In the brains of sufferers, the researchers discovered that there was an accumulation of a protein called tau around the blood vessels. Chronic traumatized encephalopathy is thought to cause certain areas of the brain to atrophy.
People with CTE may show signs of another neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – Parkinson’s disease or frontotemporal dementia.
Risk factors
Repeated exposure to traumatic brain injury is thought to increase the risk of CTE.
Prevention
There is no cure for chronic traumatized encephalopathy, but the current recommendation is to reduce mild traumatic brain injury and prevent further injury after a concussion.
Diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy
There is currently no way to diagnose CTE. It can only be suspected in people at high risk due to repeated head trauma over the years. A diagnosis requires evidence of brain tissue degeneration and deposits of tau and other proteins in the brain that can only be seen at autopsy.
PET
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan uses a radioactive tracer that is injected into a vein. Then, a scanner tracks the flow of the tracer through the brain and targets the buildup of tau.
Echolalia is characterized by a tendency to repeat immediately and spontaneously, like an echo, noises or the words of a speaker.
People with echolalia may be unable to communicate effectively because they have difficulty expressing their own thoughts.
For example, a person may only be able to repeat a question rather than answer it. In many cases, echolalia is an attempt to communicate or learn a language.
It is not the same as Tourette syndrome, where a speaker may suddenly shout or say random things. In this case, the speaker has no control over what he says or when he says it.
Repetitive speech is a common part of language development and is commonly seen in young toddlers learning to communicate. Many children will begin to mix their own utterances with repetitions of what they hear by age 2. The majority of children’s echolalia will be minimal by age 3.
Echolalia is a common symptom for autistic or developmentally delayed children, especially if they are experiencing delayed speech development.
Symptoms of echolalia
The main symptom is the repetition of phrases and noises heard. It can be immediate, with the speaker repeating something immediately after hearing it. The speaker can also be delayed, with the speaker repeating something for hours or days after hearing it.
A person with echolalia may be unusually irritable, especially when asked questions.
Causes and risk factors
All children suffer from echolalia when learning a spoken language. Most develop independent thinking as they age, but some continue to repeat what they hear. Children with communication disabilities retain echoed expressions much longer. Children with autism are particularly susceptible to echolalia.
Some people only experience this problem when they are distressed or anxious. Others experience it all the time, which can eventually make them dumb because they can’t express themselves.
Adults with severe amnesia or head trauma may experience echolalia when trying to regain their speech abilities.
Types of echolalia
There are two broad categories: functional (or interactive) echolalia and non-interactive echolalia, where sounds or words may only be for personal use rather than communication.
Interactive echolalia
It is an attempt at communication intended to be interactional, acting as communication with another person. Examples include:
the person uses sentences to allow an alternating verbal exchange;
speech is used to complete familiar verbal forms spoken by others. For example, if people are asked to complete a task, they might say « good job! » while complementing it, echoing what they are used to hearing.
speech can be used to offer new information, but it can be difficult to make the connections. A mother might ask her child what he wants for lunch, for example, and he’ll sing the song from a lunch meat commercial to say he wants a sandwich.
the person may say, “Do you want lunch? to signify that she wants her own lunch.
Non-interactive echolalia
It is generally not intended for communication and is intended for personal use. For example :
the person with echolalia says something unrelated to the context of the situation, such as reciting excerpts from a television program;
speech is triggered by a situation, visual, person, or activity, and does not appear to be an attempt to communicate;
the speaker may say the same phrase softly to himself several times before responding in a normal voice;
individuals can use guidelines to guide themselves through a process. If they’re making a sandwich, for example, they might say to themselves, “Turn on the water. Use soap. Rinse hands. Turn off the water. Dry hands. Get bread. Put the bread on the plate. Get meat for lunch”, and so on until the process is complete.
Diagnosing echolalia
A professional can diagnose echolalia by having a conversation with the affected person. If she finds it difficult to do anything other than repeat what has been said, it may affect her.
Echolalia ranges from mild to severe. A doctor can identify the stage of echolalia and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Echolalia can be treated by a combination of the following methods:
Speech therapy
Some people with echolalia attend regular speech therapy sessions to learn how to speak their mind.
In this treatment, the speech therapist asks the person with the condition to answer a question correctly.
Medications
A doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to combat the side effects of echolalia. It helps the person to stay calm. Since symptoms can increase when a person is stressed or anxious, the calming effect can help lessen the severity of the condition.
Home Care
People with echolalia can work with others at home to develop their communication skills.
Progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass are caused by Muscular dystrophy.
Mutations in abnormal genes can affect the production of proteins needed to build healthy muscle.
There are many types of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, usually in boys. Other types only surface in adulthood.
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. But medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Symptoms
1. Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy
This is the most common form. Although girls can be carriers and mildly affected, it is much more common in boys than girls.
Symptoms, which usually appear in early childhood, may include
Frequent falls
Difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position
Difficulty running and jumping
Waddling gait
walk on toes
Muscle pain and stiffness
Learning disabilities
stunted growth
2. Becker muscular dystrophy
The signs and symptoms of Becker muscular dystrophy are similar to those of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but they progress more slowly. Symptoms usually begin in adolescence, but may appear in your twenties or later.
3. Other types of muscular dystrophy
Some types of muscular dystrophy are defined by where symptoms begin.
Myotonic. This is characterized by an inability to relax the muscles after contractions. The face and neck muscles are usually the first to be impacted.
Facio-scapulo-humeral muscle . Muscle weakness usually begins in the face, hip and shoulders. Onset usually occurs in adolescence, but can begin in childhood or up to age 50.
Congenital. This type affects both boys and girls and is apparent at birth or before age 2. Some forms progress slowly and cause mild disability, while others progress rapidly and cause severe impairment.
Girdle myopathies. The hip and shoulder muscles are usually affected first. People with this type of muscular dystrophy may have difficulty lifting the front part of the foot and therefore may stumble frequently. Onset usually begins in childhood or adolescence.
Causes of Muscular Dystrophy
Certain genes are involved in making proteins that protect muscle fibers. Muscular dystrophy occurs when one of these genes is defective.
Each form of muscular dystrophy is caused by a genetic mutation specific to the type of disease. Most of these mutations are inherited.
Risk factors
Muscular dystrophy occurs in both sexes and at all ages and affects all races. However, the most common variety, Duchenne, usually occurs in young boys. People with a family history are at higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children.
Complications
Complications associated with progressive muscle weakness include:
Difficulty walking.
Difficulty using the arms.
Shortening of the muscles or tendons around the joints (contractures).
Breathing problems.
Curved spine (scoliosis).
Heart problems.
Swallowing problems.
Diagnostic
The doctor will likely begin by taking the patient’s medical history and doing a physical exam.
After that, he might recommend:
Enzymatic tests (creatine kinase).
A genetic test.
A muscle biopsy.
echocardiogram
Pulmonary function tests.
Electromyography.
Treatment
Although there is no cure for any form of muscular dystrophy, treating some forms of the disease can help extend the time a person with the disease can stay mobile and strengthen heart and lung muscles.
People with muscular dystrophy should be monitored throughout their lives. The care team should include a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular diseases, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Some people may also need a pulmonologist (pulmonologist), cardiologist, endocrinologist, and orthopedic surgeon.
1. Medicines
The doctor may recommend:
Corticosteroids. Prolonged use of these types of medications, however, can cause weight gain and weaken bones, increasing the risk of fracture.
Medicines such as eteplirsen or golodirsen.
Heart medications, such as angiotensin -converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or beta-blockers, if muscular dystrophy is damaging the heart.
2. Therapy
Several types of exercises and devices can improve the quality and sometimes the length of life for people with muscular dystrophy:
Range of motion and stretching exercises.
Low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking and swimming, can help maintain strength, mobility, and overall health.
Braces.
Canes, walkers and wheelchairs.
Device to combat sleep apnea.
3. Surgery
Surgery may be needed to correct any contractures or curvature of the spine that could possibly make it harder to breathe.
4. Prevent respiratory infections
Respiratory infections can lead to complications. It is therefore important to be vaccinated against pneumonia and to keep up to date with flu shots.
Dystonia is a movement disorder in which muscles contract involuntarily, causing repetitive or twisting movements of a limb or body part.
It is distinguished between primary (or primitive) dystonia and secondary dystonia.
Primary dystonia
It is most often sporadic and localized. The different forms of primary dystonia are:
Generalized dystonia. It is a dystonia which is localized at the beginning then which generalizes all the more so as it begins early, with for consequence a severe incapacity. It is an autosomal dominant disease (also called Schwalbe-Ziehen-Oppenheim disease).
focal dystonia. It is more common in women, except for writer’s cramp.
Spasmodic torticollis. It affects the muscles of the neck, causing lateral deviation of the head (torticollis), and sometimes extension (retrocollis) or flexion (antecolis) of the head. About 3 per 10,000 people suffer from it.
Blepharospasm. It is characterized by sustained contraction of the orbicularis of the eyelids, often triggered by bright light or emotional stress.
Oromandibular facial dystonia. It concerns the muscles of the face, lips, tongue and masticatory muscles, innervated by the facial nerve.
Writer’s cramp. It is one of the frequent forms in adults, which is characterized by a contraction of the muscles of the fingers. This condition is especially present in high-risk professions that overuse writing (teachers, doctors, accountants) or in individuals who have poor gestural habits. Spasms begin in the fingers, then spread to the hand and upper limb.
Spasmodic dysphonia. It is caused by a spasmodic contraction of the adductors of the vocal cords.
Secondary dystonia
The main cause of secondary dystonia is the inadequate intake of a drug (iatrogenic dystonia) or the presence of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) of ischemic or hemorrhagic origin. Appearing from a few weeks to a few years after a stroke, secondary dystonia rather concerns the discal part of the contralateral limbs (hemidystonia). The cause can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Wilson’s disease is a hereditary neurological disease caused by an accumulation in the body of copper which cannot be eliminated, and which results, among other things, in dystonia.
Causes
The exact cause of dystonia is not known. It may be due to a problem with nerve transmission in several regions of the brain. Some forms of dystonia are hereditary.
Dystonia can also be a symptom of another disease or condition, including:
Parkinson’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Wilson’s disease
A traumatic brain injury
A birth injury
A cerebral vascular accident
A brain tumor or certain disorders that develop in some people with cancer (paraneoplastic syndromes)
Oxygen deprivation or carbon monoxide poisoning
Infections, such as tuberculosis or encephalitis
Reactions to certain medications or heavy metal poisoning
Complications
Depending on the type of dystonia, complications can include:
Physical disabilities that affect your performance of daily activities or specific tasks
Difficulty seeing that affects your eyelids
Difficulty moving the jaw, swallowing, or speaking
Pain and fatigue, due to constant contraction of your muscles
A mental health disorder (depression, anxiety)
Diagnostic
The doctor will begin by reviewing the medical history, performing a physical examination, and determining the causes through the following tests:
Blood or urine tests. These tests can reveal signs of toxic products.
MRI or CT scan. These imaging tests can identify abnormalities in the brain, such as tumors, lesions, or signs of stroke.
Electromyography (EMG). This test measures the electrical activity in the muscles.
Genetic test. Some forms of dystonia are associated with certain gene mutations.
Treatment
Medications
Injections of botulinum toxin into specific muscles can reduce or eliminate muscle twitching and improve posture. The injections are usually repeated every three to four months.
Side effects are usually mild and temporary. They may include weakness, dry mouth, or voice changes.
Other drugs target neurotransmitters in the brain that affect muscle movement, including:
Carbidopa-levodopa . This medication increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Trihexyphenidyl and benztropine. Both of these drugs act on neurotransmitters besides dopamine.
Diazepam, clonazepam, and baclofen.
Therapy
Your doctor might suggest:
Physiotherapy or occupational therapy to help relieve symptoms.
Speech therapy if dystonia affects the voice
Stretching or massage to relieve muscle pain
Surgery
If the symptoms are severe, the doctor might recommend:
Deep brain stimulation.
Selective denervation surgery. This procedure involves cutting the nerves that control muscle spasms.
Usually, swallowing disorders are caused by neurological or esophageal problems or by medications. They can lead to health problems, such as malnutrition and respiratory complications, and social problems.
Their frequency is high in the elderly, especially in institutions, but they are probably underestimated and underdiagnosed. It is useful to screen patients with a swallowing test, especially since the symptoms are not always easy to detect.
It allows us to carry out additional examinations and offer individualized care, in particular on how to eat and stay hydrated.
Swallowing in three stages
Food or liquids are sucked, chewed, and moved down the throat.
Pharyngeal phase: food passes into the throat. The upper esophageal sphincter, which is the tube that goes from the mouth to the stomach, opens, allowing the bolus to pass into the esophagus. The airways are closed to prevent food or any liquid from entering. Food entering the airways can cause coughing or choking.
The esophageal phase begins after the esophagus is closed and ends with the arrival of the bolus in the stomach. Food may get stuck in the esophagus or you may vomit if there is a problem with the esophagus.
Esophageal peristalsis includes a first phase triggered during swallowing by receptors in the posterior pharyngeal wall. The second peristaltic phase is triggered by the arrival of the bolus and the dilation of the esophagus.
Signs of trouble swallowing
The swallowing disorder is called dysphagia.
General signs of a swallowing problem can include:
A cough during or just after eating or drinking
Extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
Food stuck in mouth
Having trouble breathing after meals
Weight loss
As a result, the person with swallowing difficulties may have:
Dehydration or malnutrition.
Food or liquid entering the airways.
Pneumonia or other lung infection.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that is caused by a structural or functional problem.
Consequences include airway blockage, food transfer into the airways, and aspiration pneumonia.
These eating issues are often accompanied by significant weight loss and have a psychological impact.
Causes of swallowing disorders
Many diseases can cause swallowing problems.
Medications. It is difficult to chew and swallow some medications that cause a dry mouth. Others cause a sedative effect or a decrease in the activity of the central nervous system. Here is a list:
Anxiolytics and some sleeping pills.
Certain antibiotics (aminoglycosides, erythromycin), botulinum toxin or penicillamine can block the neuromuscular junction.
Corticosteroids, colchicine, or statins can decrease muscle tone.
Drugs that lower dopamine levels (antipsychotics, antiemetics or antiparkinsonian drugs that cause undesirable motor effects (e.g. dyskinesias), among others in the mouth and face.
All drugs that lower acetylcholine levels such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Opiates or inhaled bronchodilators can also cause xerostomia.
NSAIDs can irritate the lining of the esophagus, which is a cause of trouble swallowing.
Other causes are related to brain or nerve damage by:
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Strokes are an important cause of dysphagia, particularly when they affect the brain stem or cortical areas involved in swallowing. During the acute phase of stroke, dysphagia is associated with increased mortality and an increased risk of institutionalization.
Parkinson disease. The prevalence of dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease varies between 30% and more than 80% depending on the study. Swallowing disorders can occur very early during the disease, or even precede the appearance of other classic motor signs.
Dementias. All forms of dementia can be accompanied by swallowing disorders, particularly in the severe stage of the disease, while attention disorders and praxis disorders are more significant. Neuroimaging studies indicate a decrease in activity of cortical areas during swallowing in Alzheimer’s patients.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or Lou Gehrig’s disease). Swallowing disorders are caused by weakness of the various muscles involved in swallowing, resulting in an increased risk of malnutrition.
Other neurological disorders or diseases: multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury.
Disorders or diseases related to the head or neck, such as certain cancers (mouth, throat, or esophagus).
Head or neck injuries.
Mouth or neck surgery.
Poor dentition, missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures.
Evaluation of swallowing disorders
A history and clinical examination are a first step before proceeding to a clinical evaluation or additional examinations.
The anamnesis
The doctor inquires about the patient’s history and current illnesses (e.g. neurological), about his complaints (e.g. pain when swallowing), current drug treatments, the social context (entourage, presence or absence of a caregiver ) and the type of power supply usually used.
Apart from the emergency situation of an obvious aspiration bronchoaspiration, the signs suggestive of dysphagia are often non-specific.
The clinical examination
The examination includes a complete neurological and ENT examination, in particular of the oropharyngeal and cervical region. Cough reflex, voice, speech, saliva production and swallowing, oral status, and breathing at rest are also assessed.
Depending on the cognitive state of the patient, other complementary examinations will be carried out.
Swallowing test
Different evaluation methods are available to detect and quantify swallowing disorders.
Some tests – including the water test – require the patient to swallow a predetermined volume of liquid, usually water.
Videofluoroscopy. This examination allows a real-time dynamic analysis of the different phases of swallowing, the patient swallowing a barium-based contrast product.
Flexible nasal endoscopy. It allows direct visualization of the nasopharynx, pharynx and larynx.
Pharyngoesophageal manometry. It measures pharyngeal pressure during swallowing.
There is also a swallowing screening tool: the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10)
Treatments
Management depends on the causes identified during the assessment.
A first step is to train the family and caregivers to detect signs of swallowing disorders and to supervise patients at risk at mealtimes.
It is important to ensure regular oral hygiene.
Management then includes several components: postural adjustment, learning compensatory maneuvers and changes in the volume and consistency of the bolus.
Proper positioning of the patient (ideally vertical and symmetrical) at mealtime reduces the risk of choking. The environment in which the meal is taken should be in a calm atmosphere without distraction.
Rehabilitation based on muscle strengthening of the tongue, respiratory muscles, movements of the lips, cheeks, larynx and vocal cords can improve dysphagia following a stroke.
Are you interested in learning about the benefits of using marijuana to improve your physical and mental health? From reducing pain and inflammation to promoting relaxation and relieving stress, the therapeutic potential of weed is undeniable.
However, how can you ensure you take advantage of weed’s immense healing power? This article will explore three ways weed can help boost your well-being and unlock your inner health.
How Can Cannabis Active and Healthy Lifestyle?
A poll found that four out of every five surveyed consume weed before or after engaging in physical activity. The research was published in the international journal Nature. The fact that people who used cannabis had reduced rates of obesity sparked the inquiry into the topic.
The following are the three ways weed improves your health:
Improve Your Quality of Sleep and Relieve Stress
A healthy lifestyle entails more than just physical activity. Before attempting any type of fitness goal, the body’s basic needs must be met.
This involves getting the rest you need for physical and mental recovery. The majority of the body’s basic healing and growth occurs while sleeping.
Various factors, including stress, anxiety, grief, pain, and disease, can disrupt sleep. Unfortunately, many of these issues are interconnected, all exacerbated by a lack of sleep.
This could be a difficult catch for those not getting enough rest and well-being. Moreover, one of the weeds’ primary benefits is their ability to help with sleep issues. Marijuana is well known for improving sleep quality and relieving stress.
Furthermore, cannabis improves sleep quality by:
Lessening the sensation of pain
Body and mind relaxation
Enhancing convenience
Lowering anxiety
Smoking is not the healthiest activity for someone with an active lifestyle. However, smoking is not the only way to experience cannabis’s soothing qualities.
Weed edibles, such as gummies and chocolate, capsules, and vape pens, are examples of modern marijuana products that offer a smoke-free method to enjoy marijuana’s calming effects. Moreover, edibles come in various shapes, sizes, and flavours that can be used in place of typical snacks and desserts, and you can buy them in any best online weed dispensary.
Strengthen Your Workouts Drive and Concentration
Discipline is required to maintain fitness, activity, and health. It is difficult to exercise when the body is willing, but the mind is resistant. A trace amount of marijuana can help the mind overcome stress, lack of desire, and negative thoughts.
Concentrating and entering the zone is possible by emptying the mind and building a solid mind-body connection. It’s amazing how a minor cannabinoid-induced shift in positive attitude could boost your motivation.
When you start moving, your body releases endorphins, and you feel great and productive. Cannabis can help you focus and experience your fitness on a deeper and more potent level.
Before you know it, you’ve completed your workout, whether a run or a class, and you’re ready to move on to the next set of strength-training activities. Additionally, it has been proved that cannabis provides many health benefits, most notably for patients suffering from chronic pain.
Live resin is an increasingly popular cannabis concentrate known for its strong natural flavour and high cannabinoid content.
THC, the plant’s major psychoactive component, relieves pain and improves the quality of life for patients suffering from chronic diseases. It has also been shown that the chemical enhances the body’s ability to concentrate and focus.
Promotes Rapid Recovery From Exercise
The maintenance of a lifestyle that is both healthy and active calls for self-discipline and may be challenging. It is far too simple to skip days and then overcompensate by exercising more than necessary out of guilt. The next morning, you will likely feel pain and regret.
When day-to-day stress enters your life, in addition to the ups and downs that disrupt your normal sleeping habits, it becomes even more challenging to keep a routine. Indeed, there is a serious conflict. The time needed to recuperate from an intense workout may be reduced because of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
Cannabinoids accelerate the rate at which the body recovers from physical exertion by lowering the expression of stress hormones like cortisol and the features associated with inflammatory processes.
Weeds’ Positive Effects on Healthy, Active People
Keeping a Balanced Appetite
If you have an active lifestyle, you know how important it is to eat a diet high in nutrients. Despite this, many individuals are forced to endure hunger daily due to fear, disease, and other factors. Cannabis has been shown to stimulate healthy appetites in anorexic patients, which may benefit patients who have trouble consuming enough food.
Offering Pain Relief
Cannabinoids are responsible for the analgesia and greater physical comfort arising from activating the body’s inherent pain-relieving mechanisms.
The euphoric and intoxicating properties of cannabis contribute to the plant’s soothing effects and enhanced mood; these benefits, along with the plant’s ability to promote sleep, make cannabis an effective medicine.
Conclusion
Cannabis may enhance physical and mental health by lowering pain and inflammation, inducing relaxation, and relieving stress. Moreover, adopting cannabis into a healthy lifestyle can uncover additional benefits, including improved sleep, increased exercise drive, and accelerated physical recovery. It is essential to remember that the effects of cannabis might differ from person to person and to begin with a low dose and progress with caution. Cannabis can be a potent tool for increasing general well-being and leading a healthy lifestyle if utilized correctly.
