Neuroscience
Research indicates ketamine's potential neurotoxicity at both recreational and therapeutic doses, with evidence showing brain damage in long-term users. While ketamine can temporarily increase neuroplasticity, it's not neurogenetic, and its regular use may lead to irreversible brain damage even at therapeutic levels. Concerns are rising about ketamine clinics' proliferation and dosing practices, though benefits may outweigh risks for treatment-resistant depression.
Medical advances, including gepants and related treatments, have redefined migraine as a manageable condition, moving beyond historical misconceptions of it being purely psychological or vascular. Brain research reveals migraine as a complex neurological condition involving the hypothalamus and limbic system, with various triggers affecting different people differently. Recent developments in CGRP-blocking drugs have shown promising results for some patients, though they're effective for only a subset of people.
A deeply personal account chronicles the author's transformative year at age forty, marked by her husband Jake's death from cancer and the birth of their daughter Athena, exploring how grief and motherhood have fundamentally altered her brain, body, and identity. The narrative weaves together scientific insights about neurological changes in grief and motherhood with raw emotional experiences, while examining the complex nature of loss and new beginnings.
Research findings reveal significant functional brain hyperconnectivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing children. The study demonstrates that brain hyperconnectivity patterns can predict ASD symptom severity and is supported by data from multiple independent cohorts. Results suggest potential mechanisms underlying ASD and implications for understanding brain development in autism.
Ketamine treatment offers a promising alternative for depression by targeting different brain systems than standard antidepressants and promoting neural regrowth. Yale experts explain that ketamine's rapid effects on neuroplasticity may create opportunities for enhanced therapeutic outcomes, particularly when combined with psychotherapy.