Exploring Different Brains

Dr. James Hendrix discusses his work studying the high rate of Alzheimer’s in the Down Syndrome community.

(25 minutes) Dr. James Hendrix is the Chief Scientific Officer at LuMind IDSC. In that role, Dr. Hendrix directs scientific initiatives for LuMind IDSC. A critical element of his role is to establish the nationwide Down Syndrome – Clinical Trial Network (DS-CTN) and to oversee the first clinical trial in the DS-CTN, the Longitudinal Investigation for Enhancing Down Syndrome Research (LIFE-DSR) Study. The LIFE-DSR study is a natural history study focused on adults 25 years of age and older at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Hendrix is also focused on building potential collaborations with industry, academic and government scientists focused on Down syndrome research to maximize LuMind IDSC’s scientific impact. Prior to joining LuMind, Dr. Hendrix was Director of Global Science Initiatives, at the Alzheimer’s Association. 

For more about Dr. Hendrix and LuMind: https://www.lumindidsc.org/

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Author & psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston returns to share tips for overcoming trauma.

(31 minutes) Originally a UCLA professor of psychiatry for over 25 years, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, Dr. Mark Goulston’s expertise has been forged and proven in the crucible of real-life, high stakes situations. An influencer who helps influencers become more influential, his unique background has made him an indispensable and sought after resource and change facilitator to Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs and educators across the nation. His latest book is “Why Cope When You Can Heal?”.

Dr. Goulston will be giving a free webinar on behalf of Different Brains Thursday, June 17th at 7:00pm ET. To learn more and register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8816234465395/WN_e2VwHe-bTKa25oMFl0L-8g

For more about Dr. Goulston: http://markgoulston.com/

For more about his audio course: https://himalaya.com/defeat (use offer code DEFEAT)

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Self-advocate Preston Fitzgerald discusses tuberous sclerosis

(10 minutes) Preston is currently a student at the University of North Texas, studying Consumer Experience Management. He is an advocate for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), which he was diagnosed with at seven months old.

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Vanderbilt University’s Dr. Beth Malow discusses sleep challenges on the autism spectrum.

(26 minutes) Dr. Malow is Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, holds the Burry Endowed Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development, and serves as Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Neurology and incoming director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Clinical Translational Core. Her research has emphasized the interface of sleep and epilepsy, autism, and related disorders of neurodevelopment. Dr. Malow is board certified in neurology and Sleep Medicine. She is Vice Chair of the governor-appointed Tennessee Autism Council. Dr. Malow serves as PI for the Vanderbilt site of the NeuroNEXT Network (NINDS Network of Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials). She also serves as the principal investigator for Vanderbilt’s Autism Treatment Network, one of 12 regional autism centers across North America developing standards of medical care for children with autism.

For more info on Dr. Malow’s work: https://www.vumc.org/sleep-in-autism/

For her book, “Solving Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for Frazzled Families”: https://www.amazon.com/Solving-Problems-Children-Spectrum-Disorders/dp/1606131958

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Self-advocate and Different Brains intern Julia Futo discusses growing up with DCD.

(26 minutes) Julia faced difficulties early on in life with trying to perform everyday tasks. Before she was five years old, she was diagnosed with two learning disabilities: Encephalopathy and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). She struggled in school for a long time, but that changed when she took journalism in high school and learned how to become an advocate. She is currently in college and hopes to help others find their voices.

For Different Brains articles written by Julia: https://www.differentbrains.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-someone-with-developmental-coordination-disorder/

To see Julia’s “Neurodiversity and the Coronavirus” project: https://www.differentbrains.org/neurodiversity-the-coronavirus/

Julia’s article for EP Magazine can be seen here: https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/being-a-neurodiverse-advocate

For more info: https://cee.engr.uconn.edu/include

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DCD self-advocate and Different Brains intern Julia Futo discusses how she found her voice.

(14 minutes) Julia faced difficulties early on in life with trying to perform everyday tasks. Before she was five years old, she was diagnosed with two learning disabilities: Encephalopathy and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). She struggled in school for a long time, but that changed when she took journalism in high school and learned how to become an advocate. She is currently in college and hopes to help others find their voices.

For Different Brains articles written by Julia: https://www.differentbrains.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-someone-with-developmental-coordination-disorder/

To see Julia’s “Neurodiversity and the Coronavirus” project: https://www.differentbrains.org/neurodiversity-the-coronavirus/

Julia’s article for EP Magazine can be seen here: https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/being-a-neurodiverse-advocate

For more info: https://cee.engr.uconn.edu/include

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UCONN's Marisa Chrysochoou PhD & Arash Zaghi PhD discuss their INCLUDE program

(28 minutes) Marisa Chrysochoou, Ph.D. (who also goes by Maria professionally) is Professor and Department Head for Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). Arash Zaghi, P.E., S.E. is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UCONN. The INCLUDE team is working with partners across the UConn campus to create an ecosystem that supports diverse learning styles and cultivates the potential of neurodivergent students to contribute to innovations in engineering. INCLUDE aims to make systemic changes that range across the entire span of a student's undergraduate experience.

For more info: https://cee.engr.uconn.edu/include

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Margarita Alegría, PhD discusses her work eliminating health care disparities.

(29 minutes) Margarita Alegría, PhD is the Chief of the Disparities Research Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital and The Mongan Institute, the Harry G. Lehnert, Jr. and Lucille F. Cyr Lehnert Endowed MGH Research Institute Chair and a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. The Disparities Research Unit (DRU), part of the Department of Medicine’s Mongan Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, is dedicated to undertaking innovative, collaborative research projects that focus on understanding and improving health services, and eliminating health and health care disparities for diverse racial and ethnic and/or immigrant populations.

For more info: https://www.massgeneral.org/mongan-institute/centers/DRU

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Do-IT Profiler’s Helen Arnold-Richardson discusses their work screening for neurodiversity in the justice system.

(23 minutes) Helen Arnold-Richardson is the Managing Director of Do-IT Solutions which developed the Do-IT Profiler: a screening tool used by over 25,000 people in prisons in the UK. She has a vast amount of knowledge and experience of supporting neurodiverse staff, children and adults in custody, having worked in a variety of roles within the Criminal and Youth Justice sector. The Do-IT team work with organizations by providing services and packages to support people who may be neurodivergent.

For more info: https://www.doitprofiler.com/

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Psychologist and author Simon Baron-Cohen discusses his work studying the impact people with autism have had on human invention.

(35 minutes) Sir Simon Baron-Cohen FBA FBPsS FMedSci is a British clinical psychologist and professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge. He is the Director of the University's Autism Research Centre and a Fellow of Trinity College. He has also made major contributions to the fields of typical cognitive sex differences, autism prevalence and screening, autism genetics, autism neuroimaging, autism and technical ability, and synaesthesia. Baron-Cohen was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to people with autism. He is the author of several books, the latest of which is The Pattern Seekers: A New Theory of Human Invention.

For more:

https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/

https://twitter.com/sbaroncohen

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