Dementia is an umbrella term that includes a range of symptoms associated with cognitive decline. Perhaps one of the best known and most common types — Alzheimer’s dementia — represents 60% to 80% of all dementia. It’s characterized by memory loss and, from a biological perspective, amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary (tau protein) tangles and neurodegeneration, which…
Time saved is brain saved when it comes to stroke care. “Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S,” said Shervin R. Dashti, M.D., Ph.D., endovascular neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at Norton Neuroscience Institute. “Three-quarters of a million strokes per year, many million stroke survivors, and it’s one of the leading…
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise nationwide, with notable increases among younger patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 53% of reported cases of STIs in 2020 were among adolescents and young adults between ages 15 to 24. Among Norton Healthcare’s patient population, a 20% increase in STIs was…
Children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes have up to three times the risk of developing anxiety or depression and are at higher risk of suicidal ideation and eating disorders. Having anxiety and depression — and also having diabetes — can impact their lives significantly. Addressing the mental health of children and adolescents is integral…
Monalisa M. Tailor, M.D., internal medicine physician with Norton Community Medical Associates – Barret, was installed as the 172nd president of the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) during the organization’s annual meeting in late August. Dr. Tailor is both the youngest and first female president of color in the history of the KMA. “For those of…
Sports overuse injuries in children have become quite common as the pressure for students to complete in year-round sports, such as travel and tournament teams, has increased over time. “Being active and participating in sports is a good thing for kids,” said James E. Moyer, M.D., pediatric orthopedic specialist with Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville,…
Physicians understand the importance of continuing medical education (CME), because it keeps them abreast of new developments in their specialties. CME also can fill in the gaps of a traditional medical school education. That’s one of the reasons Meredith C. Sweeney, M.D., bariatric surgeon with Norton Surgical Specialists, attends conferences and seminars to further her…
Additional data could lead to stronger guidelines extending the tPA window for ischemic strokes beyond the current 4½ hour limit in coming years, according to a Norton Neuroscience Institute stroke specialist. A common scenario faced in stroke centers is a patient who awoke with a deficit but doesn’t know when they had a stroke. The…
Iron supplementation is recommended for all patients at the beginning of their pregnancy, regardless of a patient’s race, and all obstetricians at Norton Healthcare should follow this guidance. Updated guidance for anemia in pregnancy In 2021, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) changed its protocol for treating anemia by standardizing anemia values for…
A group of Norton Healthcare physicians is using a novel approach to mitral valve repair. Research has shown that many patients with suture-based left atrial appendage surgical ligation have incomplete closure that puts them at risk for thromboembolic events. Closure of the LAA, either via percutaneous or surgical methods, could decrease risk. Thrombi typically arise…
The patient At age 10, the patient was diagnosed with a high-grade arteriovenous malformation and treated with radiosurgery. About six months later, the patient developed a severe case of brain swelling that left them with a right-sided spastic hemiparesis. A baclofen pump was placed in the normal abdominal/spinal position — to great effect. The challenge…
Clinicians managing a child or adolescent with Type 1 diabetes often have very little accurate information about the patient’s physical activity, but a new study shows activity monitors like wearable fitness trackers provide a clear picture to help balance activity with nutrition or insulin needs. “Patients often overestimate their amount of physical activity. This study demonstrated…