Think Neuro

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus is one of a few reversible causes of dementia. Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, director of the Pacific Adult Hydrocephalus Center, briefly describes the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Cervical dystonia (sometimes called neck dystonia) is the abnormal position of the muscles of the neck, causing a twisted, turned, flexed or extended neck position. Abnormal signals coming from the deep parts of the brain cause this condition and therefore it is not muscular in nature and will not resolve with muscle massage or stretching. The mainstay of treatment of cervical dystonia is with inj...

The Pacific Treatment & Research In Psychedelics (TRIP) program is dedicated to the development of psychedelic-assisted therapies and the scientific exploration of how altered states of consciousness can be harnessed to change behavior and improve brain health and quality of life. Behavioral health issues are a leading cause of disability and they remain inadequately treated worldwide. The modest...

One thing that makes Pacific Neuroscience Institute an institute is research, and Jennifer Bramen spends all of her time doing just that. Dr. Bramen earned her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. These days, she is particularly interested in the “gut biome”: all the organisms that live in our digestive system. Strange though it may seem, those bacteria have a lot to do with our brains. That’s because t...

Dr. Courtney Voelker explains about acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that affects the nerve for hearing and balance. Find out about signs and symptoms, and the three treatment options that are available.

Cushing's disease is a pituitary adenoma that causes the production of too much adrenocorticotropic hormone resulting in excess cortisol levels in the body. Listen to Dr. Daniel Kelly, MD, founder & director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute and one of the most experienced pituitary neurosurgeons in the world talk about Cushing's disease symptoms, diagnosis, optimal treatment, minimally invasive k...

It’s important to understand the connection between carbohydrates and Alzheimer's disease. Brain cells depend on insulin to use glucose effectively. When insulin resistance sets in, as it often does with older age and AD, it can lead to cognitive decline. Both AD and type 2 diabetes share common mechanisms, including impaired insulin signaling. Lowering blood sugar and insulin levels could also he...

From Episode 350 of the RealTalkMS podcast with John Strum from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. May 2024 There are more than 20 disease-modifying therapies available to treat MS today. Some are considered high-efficacy, some are considered moderately effective, and each has its own risk profile and side effects to consider. So, how do you choose? How much homework should someone living wi...

Ryan Glatt is a certified personal trainer, a national board-certified health and wellness coach, and director of FItBrain at PNI. He’s also a big believer in the idea that just getting on a treadmill isn’t enough to keep our brains and bodies in top condition as we age. We must “dual task,” Glatt says. That means finding activities that challenge our minds and bodies at the same time, like dance...

For malignant brain cancers, such as glioblastoma, treatment options have not significantly improved. The current standard of care involves surgery followed by radiation or chemotherapy. Dr. Kesari and his team are exploring a new approach. The PNI (Precision Immunotherapy in the Neoadjuvant setting) method uses targeted treatments based on the patient's tumor genetics before administering chemoth...

Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, is a world-renowned neuro-oncologist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA. He treats patients with brain tumors including glioblastoma, glioma, meningioma, metastatic brain tumors, chordoma, and many more difficult brain cancers. He believes that in order to cure patients with brain tumors we first need to gain a better molecular and biological understandi...

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is a rare vascular condition where abnormal connections (fistulas) form between branches of arteries and veins in the dura mater, the brain's covering. The dural arteries deliver high-pressure, oxygen-rich blood to the brain, while the dural veins return deoxygenated, low-pressure blood to the heart. DAVF causes high-pressure arterial blood to flow into veins or...

Congestion. Sneezing. Runny nose. Stuffy nose. These symptoms may be all too familiar to those with allergic rhinitis – sometimes called seasonal allergies or hay fever. An incredibly common condition, allergic rhinitis, affects about 1 in 5 people and is triggered by exposure to allergens, like pollen or pet dander. Dr. Michael Yong is a board certified otolaryngologist PNI. He provides full-serv...

Meet Dr. Christopher M. Putman, a board-certified interventional neuroradiologist with over 20 years of experience. He treats a variety of complex intracranial, head and neck, and spine vascular conditions including acute stroke, cervical and intracranial stenosis, vascular malformations, cerebral aneurysm, and venous occlusive diseases. https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/stroke-neurovas...

A brain aneurysm is also called a cerebral aneurysm or an intracranial aneurysm and refers to the same diagnosis. Muscular-walled tubes blood vessels called arteries are part of our circulation system. These tubes are how blood is conveyed from the heart to the brain, carrying oxygen and nutrients to support the brain and its functions. A diagnosis of a brain aneurysm means that a bulging, weak ar...

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic condition, characterized by inflammation of the nasal passages and is usually triggered by exposure to allergens such as pollen or pet dander. An incredibly common condition, allergic rhinitis affects about 1 in 5 people. Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, a runny nose, and allergic conjunctivitis. Over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and nasal...

Ryan Glatt is a Certified Personal Trainer and a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach with over a decade of experience. He focuses his exercise and health coaching strategies on brain health, personalizing lifestyle interventions for individuals with brain and cognitive health goals. Ryan is a Brain Health Coach and the Director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute...

Join us as Dr. Jason Tarpley joins the Your Healthy Dose podcast with Kym Douglas. A stroke can be debilitating and even deadly. Join us for “What You Need to Know About Strokes,” when podcast host Kym Douglas talks with physician Dr. Jason Tarpley about the various kinds of strokes, the need for speed in assessing someone who may be having a stroke, what BEFAST stands for, the latest options for...

José M. Morales, MD, MSc, is a vascular neurologist and neurointerventional surgeon, who specializes in minimally invasive endovascular procedures to treat conditions and diseases of the brain and spine. Dr. Morales completed his Master’s degree in Integrative Neuroscience at Imperial College London. He graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where he served as the Pr...

Intracranial meningiomas are the most common benign brain tumor that develop or arise from any meningeal surface of the brain, and are typically attached to the dura (outer layer of the meninges) but can also occur in the cerebral ventricles. Listen to Dr. Daniel Kelly, MD, PNI founder & director, and neurosurgeon, talk about intracranial meningioma symptoms, treatment and minimally invasive keyho...

April 2024 | Dale Bredesen, MD, is an internationally recognized neurologist with specialty expertise in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. He is the senior director of Precision Brain Health at Pacific Neuroscience Institute®. His expertise in neurodegenerative diseases drives groundbreaking advancements in personalized treatment for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. From decodi...

Use the term “vocal cords” and most people think of the structure that lets us talk, sing and yell. But these folds of throat tissue do much more. Among their most important functions is sealing off the trachea, or windpipe, when we eat or drink, to keep foods and liquids from getting into our lungs. Romina Huerta, a speech-language pathologist at PNI, knows all about the vocal cords. Long before...

Michael Yong, MD, MPH, MBA, is board certified in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and fellowship-trained in Neurorhinology – Advanced Sinus & Skull Base Surgery. At Pacific Neuroscience Institute®, Dr. Yong provides full-service general Otolaryngology care, with an expertise in sinonasal and skull base disorders. He specializes in using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for the treatm...

Michelle Holmes, OD, is a full-scope optometrist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute®. She sees patients at both the Eye, Ear and Skull Base Center as well as at the Brain Health Center. She is board certified and TLG licensed to treat and manage ocular disease. She prides herself in practicing evidence-based medicine with a genuine enthusiasm for human connection. She earned her undergraduate d...

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a condition caused by elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the brain. The symptoms of this condition mimic those of a brain tumor, giving it the name pseudotumor cerebri, meaning "false brain tumor." The increased pressure can cause swelling of the optic nerve and can result in loss of vision. Medications can oft...