[ Watch the Video: Untangling The Brain Circuits In Mental Illness ] Alan McStravick for redorbit.com Your Universe online Just over a year ago, the White House announced a new initiative aimed at gaining a broader understanding of how the human brain works. The BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative will present new and novel ways to treat, prevent and cure brain disorders like Alzheimers, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. A year on and we are now learning that scientists and physicians at UC San Francisco are advancing on their work, focusing on gaining understanding and developing treatment for some of the more common and debilitating psychiatric disorders. First up on the list are certain anxiety disorders and major depression. This course of study was one of the first research projects launched after the announcement of BRAIN. It is believed their work will pioneer neural stimulation which will help the brain to unlearn the patterns of these disorders that lead to them becoming more and more debilitating to the sufferer. The UCSF research is being funded via the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of that agencys new program, SUBNETS (Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging … Continue reading →

With the focus on concussions in young athletes intensifying across the nation, the White House on Wednesday unveiled a raft of initiatives aimed at preventing mild traumatic brain injury and improving its diagnosis and treatment in children. Readying for a White House event Thursday focusing on youth sports and brain safety, officials announced a fresh commitment of $65 million in private funds to boost clinical and scientific work. In addition to $30 million from the NCAA and a new pledge of $25 million from the NFL for separate endeavors, a $10-million gift to UCLA from Hollywood executive and New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch will help get a national tracking system for concussions off the ground. "Hopefully, 20 years from today, athletes won't be discovering the head injuries that football players now are discovering they may have gotten when they were playing in high school and college," said Tisch, whose son plays high school football and whose daughter plays lacrosse. "This is kind of a new frontier." Tisch's donation will sustain and expand a university program that since 2012 has treated 600 young patients with brain injuries and studied the after-effects of concussions in middle school, high school and college … Continue reading →

Vienna, VA (PRWEB) May 29, 2014 The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is an invited participant at todays White House Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit, where President Obama will announce new public and private initiatives to improve prevention, identification, and management of youth sports concussions. Greg OShanick, M.D., former chairman of the board and medical director emeritus of BIAA, will represent the organization and discuss BIAAs efforts surrounding youth sport concussion interventions. Dr. OShanick has treated patients with brain injuries for more than 30 years and has served on the faculties of three different medical schools in addition to his work with BIAA and in private practice. With a generous grant from SAP, the world leader in enterprise software solutions, BIAA is developing an app that will give parents, teachers, coaches, and allied health professionals a platform to communicate with one another. The app will also provide tools to help parents and students know when it is safe to return to school after concussion. Teamwork does not end on the playing field, Dr. OShanick said during a meeting on BIAAs work on youth sport concussions. When it comes to concussion, student athletes need a full circle of … Continue reading →

AP President Barack Obama applauds Victoria Bellucci, a 2014 graduate of Huntingtown High Shool in Huntingtown, Md., who suffered five concussions playing soccer, Thursday, May 29, 2014, in the East Room of the White House. Related: Pascrell hears his idea pitched by Obama at brain injury summit WASHINGTON Saying he wants kids to play sports but play safely, President Barack Obama called Thursday for more and better research into the effects and treatment of concussions in youth athletes. The issue is one of growing concern for parents who spend weekends driving their kids from one game to another. But without direct authority over youth sports leagues, Obama's ability to address the issue meaningfully is limited to calling for research and trying to jumpstart a national conversation to teach parents, coaches and young athletes about concussions the goal of a summit he hosted at the White House. He also said a new attitude is needed where players who have been hit don't feel wimpy for sitting out a game or two. "We have to change a culture that says you suck it up," Obama said, adding that he probably suffered mild concussions as a young football player. He noted that concussions … Continue reading →

From the Political State blog on NorthJersey.com For more than a decade, Rep. Bill Pascrell has been leading a drive to get more government resources behind dealing with brain injuries. On Thursday, President Obama called for the same thing, and mentioned Pascrell and two other members of Congress at the start of his remarks. Among the initiatives Obama highlighted at a special White House summit on brain injuries in student athletes is an effort to coordinate research and develop standards that Pascrell sought in a bill that passed the House in 2010 but died in the Senate. Thats right out of the CONTACT Act, Pascrell, D-Paterson, said in a phone interview after attending the program. The president has bought into it. Related: Obama says sports concussions need more attention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will work with medical experts to develop guidelines for diagnosing and managing mild traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, in children and teens. That effort was part of a bill dubbed the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools Act of 2010 that Pascrell authored. Funding for the program, to be run by a program focused on brain injuries at UCLA, will include a $10 million donation … Continue reading →

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) May 29, 2014 Positive Brain Training (PBT) is form of Neurofeedback developed by Dr. Rex Cannon, Chief Scientific Officer, of BrainTreatment Centers of South Florida. Dr. Cannons latest research found children with ADHD demonstrated dramatic improvements in neurocognitive and psychological functioning after only three weeks of PBT treatment. BrainTreatment Centers use PBT to help children and adults affected by ADHD and Learning Disorders learn to: Raising a child or teen diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be concerning for parents and caregivers because it puts their child at a learning disadvantage. At BrainTreatment Centers of South Florida, parents are gaining peace of mind and witnessing real changes in their childs behavior. Through using PBT neurofeedback, BrainTreatment Centers are teaching children diagnosed with ADHD to self-regulate their brain activity; thereby improving concentration, focus and executive functions. These skills translate in real world practicality, encouraging enhanced performance in school and social settings. In addition, teens seeking increased focus and clarity have benefitted from positive brain training to improve their testing ability. Published results have been remarkably effective, improving IQ levels and testing scores. The treatment programs offered at BrainTreatment Centers are overseen by doctoral-level professionals and have … Continue reading →