Profits Don’t Provide the Whole Picture

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As one reads the newspapers (uncritically), one would assume that business is booming.  We have just read about the third quarter in a row of impressive earnings growth. Total corporate profits are on the order of $ 1.2 trillion, way higher than before our devastation.  First caveat- we are comparing these results to pretty anemic periods.  If you were running your company and had a 50% drop in profits for one year, the next year’s earnings growth of 100% would mean you were back to just where you were two years ago.

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Parkinson’s Disease and Cognitive Impairment

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We all know the standards symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (some 500,000 in the US alone) patients- tremors, slow motion, etc.  But, most of us fail to recognize these patients also suffer from cognitive impairment.  They don’t lose their memory- they just can’t make decisions, plan, or adequately control their emotions

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A possible (?) link between acetaminophen and asthma symptoms

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You have a new baby.  You are trepidatious that it may be allergic.  So, no aspirin for it; instead you rely upon Tylenol (acetaminophen).  Along comes a new study- Tylenol may be causing the worldwide epidemic in asthma cases…..One study even claims 40% of all cases may be caused by Tylenol  (the studies use acetaminophen or peracetamol- the generic nomenclature, the news agencies report the brand name).  And, you thought J&J had headaches before…

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Brain Scan detects Autism in Adults; Next step is to determine utility in children

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UK Scientists [lead researchers Drs. Christine Ecker and Declan Murphy] from King’s College (London), have developed a new computer coupled brain scan procedure that can detect Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults.   There is no known single cause for ASD, which affects just under 1% of all newborns in the US, 50% more boys than girls.  This complex brain disorder is associated with impaired social interactions and communications, which manifests itself during the first three years of life.  While unknown at present, ASD is considered to be genetic in origin- either the result of mutations or combinations of various genetic variants.

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Our Personalities Reflect Different Sizes of Brain Regions- Or Vice-Versa

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We now see that our personalities become fixed at a rather early age; some of us can, indeed, change our types (previous post), but it’s somewhat hard.  …  Most of us attributed these things to how  neurotransmitters and hormones affect our brain centers.  Yet, we also know that certain parts of the brain are associated with different behaviors.  The medial orbitofrontal cortex is involved with rewards (as is the neurotransmitter dopamine); other regions are associated with threat response; still others with negative effects and punishment; lateral prefrontal cortex deals with planning and voluntary behavior; and, there’s a region associated with  examining the mental states of others.

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Our Personalities Gel By The Time We Are In First Grade

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An upcoming publication in the Journal of Social, Psychological, and Personality Science (lead author Christopher Nave)  indicates that our personality traits seem to be set at very early ages.  This does not mean that people can’t change; it’s a more difficult process, but it can occur.Personality and Major

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