PB With J's

We've been gone for a bit, we know. But we're back this week with a special Wednesday episode on a listener requested topic: Memory.

Memory, despite having been studied for centuries, is still one of neuroscience's great mysteries. We'll touch a bit on some of the mechanics of memory before jumping into some of the myths an facts out there about improving your memory - you might be surprised at what you learn.

Dandy Walker is a surprisingly common neurodevelopmental syndrome of which very few people are aware.

But what exactly is DWS? what sort of developmental abnormalities are observed? what physiological effects are present?

Today we'll jump into this somewhat mysterious and very under the radar disorder and attempt to answer some of those pressing questions.

Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) sounds mysterious on its own, but its pathology is even more baffling. Also known as Mad Cow Disease, CJD is part of a larger group of disease called tranmissible spongiform encephalopathies that arise through the action of prions.

What on earth does all that mean? We'll dive into in this week's episode as we explore one of the more fascinating and devastating classes of diseases that we know.

Artwork this week by Dr. Amesh Adalja in an article claiming prions as the real brain eaters, not zombies. Duh. (http://www.trackingzebra.com/new-blog/2015/9/3/prions-not-zombies-are-the-real-brain-eaters)

Cockayne Syndrome is a rare and very unfamiliar genetic disease that affects children in a host of perplexing ways that can be characterized by rapid aging.

How does such an odd pathology develop? how can we still have no effective treatment for such a disease? where is the research now? This week, we'll attempt to tackle these questions as we dive into the world of Cockayne Syndrome.

Artwork this week from a parent of a child with Cockayne (http://bluepurpleandscarlett.com/2012/02/23/new-stare-cards-for-cockayne-syndrome)

Schizophrenia is another one of those topics about which the public is broadly aware. Through time, though, it became the epitome of "mad" or "institutional," with the general understanding somehow becoming that patients with Schizophrenia have different personalities that can manifest themselves.

While out understanding is much more advanced now, we often still exist in those antiquated and inaccurate stereotypes. So what actually is Schizophrenia, then? We'll try to answer and explain that question in this week's episode.

Link to the paper mentioned examining the possibilities of Schizophrenia in 2030. (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v468/n7321/full/nature09552.html?foxtrotcallback=true)

Artwork this week from an artist with Schizophrenia who explores what it means to have such a disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is widely misunderstood and frequently stigmatized, in scientific and non-scientific communities alike.

But what does it mean to be diagnosed with Autism? What does this disorder really look like? is it even a disorder at all? should we work to reclassify the diagnosis? what's actually going on in the brain?

The questions are varied and difficult, and this week we'll do our best to tackle them.

Artwork this week from Max LaZebnik, an artist and autism self-advocate in the LA area.

Tourette Syndrome exists in a rather mysterious position in our society - we're not really sure what to name it (Tourette Syndrome, Tourette's, Tourette's Syndrome, Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome?) and think it just makes you shout random curse words, right? (not quite - it's much more varied and complex than that singular rare form).

So join us this week (with the next of our guest intros!) as we clarify some misconceptions and dive a bit into the science of Tourette Syndrome!

Artwork this week from a children's book exploring Tourette Syndrome.

Life gets chaotic sometimes, and this week life was a bit much for us here at PB With J's. But, instead of leaving you out to dry, we decided to go for a quick rundown on what's going down in the world of neuroscience.

Jacob had to opt out this week, but join Joseph as he dives into a but of the current literature in this week's quick 10 minute breakdown.

And be sure to tune in next week for Tourette's Syndrome!

This week we don't necessarily dive into one particular disease or disorder, but a neurological symptom that is seen in various diseases.

We know a bit about how Chorea works, but what exactly is it? how do we see it in various diseases? what can we do to alleviate its effects? Join us this week, with a new special guest introducer!

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a lesser known, rare neurodegenerative disorder that results in the slow deterioration of various neurological systems leading to the accumulation of difficulties in a range of neurological functions.

So how does MSA arise? how does it progress? why don't we hear about it much today? This week, we'll explore these questions and the complex nature of MSA.

Also, here's a link to the story we mention for those who are curious: https://www.rareconnect.org/en/community/multiple-system-atrophy/article/msa-jiepie-s-story

Also, artwork this week from "Salt and Moon:" https://sandsaltmoon.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/guest-doodlewasherafter-charlies-site-my-dad/