The brain is an organ, just like any other. This is one of principles that guides our work at the Flawless Foundation, and we believe its essential that the medical community, political leaders, and the broader public come to embrace this view of the brain as well. For too long, weve understood, talked about, and treated the brain as separate from the rest of the body, and as a result, the health of this organ -- brain health -- has been overlooked or neglected. Furthermore, those with brain health disorders havent benefitted from the same level of care and concern, either from a medical standpoint or culturally. All of this needs to change, and it begins with seeing the brain for exactly what it is. The science is already here. Every day, neuroscience is revealing more and more about the nuances of this vital organ and about how to care for its health. Historically weve intervened with treatment far too late -- as the advocacy organization Mental Health America says, at stage four. Now, thanks to medical and technological breakthroughs, we have the potential for improved practices in prevention and early diagnosis. We now have the ability to screen for … Continue reading →

In the future, patients with neurological conditions such as brain injuries and Parkinson's disease could get faster diagnoses and more precise treatment, due to a collaboration between the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The tie-up will see medical practitioners and engineers working together through annual fellowships and student attachment programmes over the next three years. One such project aims to speed up the time taken by radiologists to interpret computed tomography (CT) scans, which could result in faster treatment. It will explore the use of artificial intelligence to identify different types of traumatic brain injuries. An average of 2,000 CT scans are performed at the NNI's Tan Tock Seng Hospital campus every month, not all for brain injuries. Every week, between 20 and 30 patients with traumatic brain injuries are admitted to NNI. The collaboration is key to plugging gaps in real-life applications of both disciplines, said Professor Chen Tsuhan, NTU's dean of the College of Engineering. "A lot of time is spent in the lab working with algorithms or engineering solutions without knowing much about the (clinical) data," he said. "So it is very important for our engineering faculty and students to know the kind … Continue reading →

Hayley Wickenheiser once won multiple medals in Olympic and world championship competition for the Canadian national hockey team. Recently, she joined another high-profile team: the professional advisory board of Highmark Interactive, a medical technology company seeking to change how athletes manage concussions and other brain injuries. Wickenheiser is one of three former athletes to form the team that will advise Highmark Interactive as it develops a video game that will revolutionize patient management, according to a press release. The others joining the board are Olympic medal-winning snowboarder Mark McMorris and former NHL player Bryce Salvador. The three athletes will be joined also by Andy OBrien, the director of sport science and performance for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Highmark Interactive claims that over one million Canadians live with a brain injury, but management and treatment options are not widely known are available a silent epidemic. Major athletes are looking to the private sector for help in the fight against concussions, Wickenheiser said in a statement. Its great to be a part of such a collaborative team of athletes, doctors and tech innovators who care deeply about supporting the research and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. Get The Latest Sports Tech News In … Continue reading →