Your Complex Brain

Lindsay's mother Barbara had Alzheimer's disease. Lindsay, her brothers, and her father noticed changes in her mid-sixties. They started noticing her repeating herself and she stopped coming to the pool with them when they went to visit her and their dad in Florida. She also forgot where she parked her car and had to ask for help. Her memory was not what it used to be and she started to...

Lara Pingue shares her story about living with chronic back pain and the challenges of getting a diagnosis and finding effective treatment. She describes the initial onset of her pain and the various treatments she tried, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, and prescription medications.  She also discusses the impact of the pain on her daily life and the frustration of not being able to...

As a child, Nikki experienced seizures that she did not realize were seizures. She would feel "other" and disconnected from the world. Her earliest seizure memory is from when she was six years old, triggered by looking out the window of her parent's house. She would sometimes go to the window to see if she would have a seizure. Today, her seizures are still the same as when she was...

Farrah Schwartz is the manager of Patient Education and Engagement at UHN. Her work entails assisting patients in actively participating in their care and improving organizational processes. The Patient Education and Engagement program provides resources, training, and coaching to help Team UHN engage patients in their care. They are also working on patient engagement within organizational improve...

In the second season of Your Complex Brain, join us on a thrilling journey as we delve into the boundless realm of neuroscience, brain health, and ground-breaking research and its impact on our lives. Through thought-provoking discussions, expert interviews, and captivating patient stories, we unravel the mysteries of our brain. The Your Complex Brain production team is Heather Sherman, Jessica Sc...

From new Alzheimer’s drugs, to novel treatments for brain cancer, to chronic pain, many of us feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of health news in the media and confused about what to believe - and how it applies to our own health. In this special episode of Your Complex Brain - our last of the season - we bring back five of our featured UHN brain experts to weigh in on the top, science-based, e...

More than eight million Canadians are currently living with the effects of debilitating chronic pain. In this episode, we discuss the connection between chronic pain and the brain, including the latest & most effective treatments, the stigma - how do you study and treat something that you often can’t see? And, is there a way to build ‘pain resilience’? We’ll speak with Dr. Andrea Furlan, a sen...

When Brynn Ladley was born, she was a smiling, happy and healthy baby, hitting all of her developmental milestones. Then, at six weeks old, she began having seizures and eventually was diagnosed with CDKL5, a rare and debilitating genetic disorder that has no cure. Upon Brynn’s diagnosis, her mother Natalie became an advocate and connected with Dr. James Eubanks, a Senior Scientist at the Krembil...

Every year, 40 million people worldwide sustain a concussion – a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a hit or jolt to the head. We often hear about concussions in the context of sports, but most occur as a result of everyday life, from running or biking, accidental falls and motor vehicle accidents. While the vast majority of those who suffer a concussion recover in time, there are many who e...

When you think about your favourite memories, what comes to mind? Is it the championship win at your high school football game? Your child’s first words? Or the lyrics to a song you loved? In this episode, our experts tackle the big & thought-provoking questions, such as: How does our brain log & store memories? Where do memories go as we age? And why do we remember some things, and not ot...

What happens when a vision researcher has a chance meeting with a pediatric oncologist and that collaboration leads to unexpected and promising results? In Episode 5 of Your Complex Brain, we’re talking about a homegrown vision rehabilitation program helping young brain cancer survivors, whose sight has been impacted by their tumours, improve their vision. The program, developed at University Heal...

Whether as a patient, a caregiver, a neighbour or a friend, chances are, one day, we will all be touched by Alzheimer’s or dementia. This disease steals our memories and cruelly robs us of our loved ones, often when we need them the most. But, there is hope and momentum in the world of Alzheimer's research. In fact, a new theory suggests that Alzheimer’s could even be an autoimmune disease. I...

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is complex brain surgery in which electrodes are placed at strategic, predetermined targets within a patient's brain. The electrodes are then connected to a battery pack which is surgically inserted under the skin of the chest, like a pacemaker. When DBS was first introduced as a treatment option for people living with Parkinson’s disease more than 20 years ago, i...

Women make up nearly half of the world's population and have higher rates of neurological disorders, yet there is still a gap when it comes to better understanding and treating women living with brain-related illnesses. Many women also face systemic barriers and biases when they seek help, often leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Featuring: Dr. Esther Bui - Neurologist and clinici...

In a world that appears to be becoming more and more divisive, there's one thing we can all agree on. As a society, we are stressed out. Whether it's financial pressures, family or work obligations, or even just finding time for yourself in a never-ending tornado of to-do lists, stress is everywhere and it's not going away. We often talk about the physiology of stress and how it aff...

Well, it’s no surprise. Since last season, our brains haven’t gotten any less complex! But that just means there are even more stories to share about the mysteries, myths and science behind how our brains work, and what keeps our brains healthy and fit.  On Season 2 of our podcast Your Complex Brain, we’ll highlight the latest research, technology and innovations in brain science by speaking with...

We’ll be launching Season 2 of the Your Complex Brain podcast next spring and we are so excited to bring you even more fascinating topics and inspiring stories about the most complex and fascinating organ in your body – your brain. Until then, please check out our friends at Behind the Breakthrough , a podcast hosted by Christian Cote, showcasing the ground breaking research and the people behind...

It’s been more than two years since Susie Goulding contracted COVID-19. But, like many others experiencing long COVID, her ordeal is far from over. On today’s episode of Your Complex Brain, Heather explores what the medical and science communities are learning about the long-term impacts of COVID-19 – and all the mysteries that remain. After hearing a first-hand account from Susie, Heather meets w...

Imagine not being able to brush your teeth, eat a sandwich or cuddle your children because of the intense pain. That’s the reality for many people living with trigeminal neuralgia, an unrelenting form of chronic facial pain. For many of these patients, a smile, a kiss, or even a gust of wind can unleash a throbbing so severe, some describe it as a ‘lightning bolt to the face.’ Because trigeminal n...

More than 100,000 Canadians are living with Parkinson's, a progressive brain disease that can impact mobility, cognitive function and speech. In this episode, Heather explores what it means to not just live with Parkinson’s, but to ‘live well,’ with meaning and purpose. She meets with two patients currently living with Parkinson’s, who are on a mission to help others on the same journey, and...

More than 50 years after emerging as a potential treatment for anxiety and depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and other chronic illnesses, psychedelics appear to be making a comeback. But where does the research stand currently on psychedelics and what do we really know about how these compounds may affect the brain? With the number of people living with mental health conditions...

That mysterious back or neck pain you’ve been experiencing might just be Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) – a progressive condition that is the most common cause of spinal cord injury. Left untreated, DCM can lead to permanent nerve damage, resulting in paralysis and a drastic increase in the chance of a more serious spinal cord injury, later in life. To explore, Heather meets with Dr. Micha...

Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive type of malignant brain tumour. It strikes suddenly, often in the prime of life, and is a devastating diagnosis for patients and loved ones. But innovative new research, such as a blood test to detect and diagnose brain cancer, is showing promise and bringing hope to a field in desperate need of new treatment options. To learn more, Heather meets...

Rowan Stringer was a 17 year-old rugby player who sustained several concussions over a series of matches, before passing away in 2013. Her family, and others like them, are fighting hard to make sure something like this never happens again, through education and advocacy. But there is currently no method for accurately diagnosing a concussion or predicting the length of recovery. And there are sti...

Mozart was 25 years old when he composed his Sonata for Two Pianos in D major. Hundreds of years later, his enchanting melody is offering hope to those living with epilepsy, a brain disease often characterized by debilitating seizures. A new study is looking at the impact of this Mozart Sonata on reducing seizure frequency in people with epilepsy. Heather speaks with  Dr. Marjan Rafiee and Dr. Tau...