The Brain Channel – Page 2

Your Brain in Health and Disease

The brain is the most important organ in the body. It is the hub of the nervous system and controls all the body’s functions. But sometimes there are problems with the brain. For example, with our aging population the incidence of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are predicted to reach epidemic proportions. But decline in cognition with age is not inevitable. Find out how to know when it’s serious.

Sometimes brains are injured by head trauma and cause long term effects. We hear about this with football players and others who have been exposed to concussion. You’ll also learn why we need to sleep and about disorders like sleep apnea that may be preventing you from getting the rest you need.

Explore other fascinating functions of the human brain, such as how we acquire language and what happens to brain networks to cause aphasia and dyslexia.

Prevention, recognition, treatment and even potential cures are presented by experts from the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, one of the world’s leading centers in the care and research of neurodegenerative disorders.

The complexity of the brain is endlessly fascinating. Tune in to learn more:

Rapidly Progressive Dementia: From Prions to Antibodies

Normal and Abnormal Aging and the Brain

Sleep Disorders

Language and Brain: From Dyslexia to Progressive Aphasia

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Alzheimer’s Disease, FTD and Parkinson’s Disease

The Mind and Methods of V.S. Ramachandran

“A lot of the time when you think the patient is crazy, it means you’re not smart enough to figure it out.” – V.S. Ramachandran

Seeing numbers as colors. Feeling the pain from a phantom limb. Sensing shadowy figures around your bed. V.S. Ramachandran, PhD studies these seeming anomalies of the mind to discover the bigger questions about how our brains function. Dive in to a fascinating conversation as he joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss his fascinating career and his scientific process.

Watch The Mind and Methods of V.S. Ramachandran on The Brain Channel.

Alzheimer's Disease – Neuroimaging, Caregiver Concerns, and Residential Care

Continuing our in-depth look at Alzheimer’s disease, On Our Mind examines the patient experience as well as the impact of the disease on families and communities. Learn more with our newest installments:

27760 Neuroimaging Advances for Alzheimer’s Disease
What insights can new imaging techniques give us not only to the biology of the disease but the efficacy of new therapies?

27760 Caregiver Concerns: Wandering, Home Safety and More
Six in ten people with dementia will wander. Learn how to create a home environment that facilitates safety.

27760 Residential Care and Alzheimer’s Disease
Making the residential care decision can feel overwhleming. Learn how residential care has changed and the impact of care with dignity.

The Brain Channel’s flagship series On Our Mind takes a closer look at Alzheimer’s disease. Join Dr. William Mobley as he meets with those on the front lines of this disease to discuss current and potential therapies, testing, clinical trials, neuropathology, public policy and so much more.

Watch all of the Alzheimer’s Disease programs.

Discovering New Drugs and Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease

Watch the latest Alzheimer’s Disease programs from the Brain Channel:

1761 Embracing Innovation: Discovering New Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease
How can we create more effective drugs for Alzheimer’s disease? Michael Jackson, PhD joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss the process of turning an idea into a drug. Creating connectivity between basic scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and the physicians on the front lines is a critical step as is embracing new ideas that may lead us to new therapeutic options.

1761 Seeking the Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease
The biomarkers for many diseases can be found through blood tests, can Alzheimer’s disease eventually be diagnosed this way? Douglas R. Galasko, MD joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss the search for these biomarkers and how they might one day lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of the disease, improved therapies, clear maps of progression, and much more.

Watch all of the Alzheimer’s Disease programs.

New Alzheimer's Programs from the Brain Channel's On Our Mind

Watch the latest Alzheimer’s Disease programs from the Brain Channel!

The Brain Channel’s flagship series On Our Mind is endeavoring in the next few months to take a closer look at Alzheimer’s disease. Join Dr. William Mobley as he meets with those on the front lines of this disease to discuss current and potential therapies, testing, clinical trials, neuropathology, public policy and so much more.

Online now:

1761 Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
How do you know when memory problems become more than just problems? Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging but new tests and scientific insight are making the process simpler and more accurate. Michael Rafii, MD, PhD joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss when to see a doctor, what to expect during the diagnosis process, and other valuable information for patients and their families.

1761 Developing New Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease
What does the future hold for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease? Steven L. Wagner, PhD joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss the development of new drugs to aid in the fight. Wagner describes amyloid plaques as “the cholesterol of the brain” and is working to find a way to suppress its adverse effects.

1761 Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
By the age of 40, nearly all people with Down syndrome have the plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Michael Rafii, MD, PhD joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss why this occurs, the prevalence and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, potential treatment models and current research affecting this predisposed population.

1761 Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease Earlier and Effectively
Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease – before symptoms are visible – may be a key to stopping the disease’s progression. What warning signs are researchers looking for and what tools can they use? Paul Aisen, MD joins William Mobley, MD, PhD to discuss optimal assessments for diagnosing the disease, novel tools making earlier diagnosis possible, and the road map to developing drugs to slow, halt, and prevent Alzheimer’s.

Watch all the programs in this informative series and stay tuned for upcoming episodes.