Your Child's Brain

Dr. Theresa Nguyen, pediatrician and host of the "Practical Parenting" podcast, joins Dr. Brad Schlaggar this month to talk about the state of youth mental health. Recent research reveals that kids are more anxious or depressed than previously reported and are even considering suicide more frequently than parents might know. Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Schlagger share advice for talking about these tough topics with the children in your lives.

What is neurofibromatosis? On this month’s episode of Your Child’s Brain, Dr. Brad Schlaggar talks with neurologists Dr. Stephanie Morris and Dr. Jaishri Blakeley about this rare disease which affects about 1 in 2,500 individuals. They discuss what neurofibromatosis is, how it affects the body, and the ways it’s being treated at a new Kennedy Krieger clinic for pediatric patients, an extension of a world-class neurofibromatosis center at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

On this month’s episode of Your Child’s Brain, we mark the fifth anniversary of the podcast. Dr. Ali Fatemi, Kennedy Krieger’s chief medical officer, joins host Dr. Brad Schlaggar to celebrate and reflect on these past five years. More than 95 experts have appeared on the show to share information on a wide variety of topics, including autism, epilepsy, stroke, sickle cell disease, post-cancer recovery, mental health conditions, and more. They’ve talked about education, advocacy, research, and clinical care, and they’ve been joined by patients, students, and families, who have shared their perspectives, too. Tune in to hear this retrospective—and what’s on the horizon in the care and treatment of children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

It is now estimated that more than 20 percent of American children and teens have at least one mental, behavioral, or emotional health condition. Among the most common of these mental health challenges are anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (or OCD). In this episode, Dr. Joe McGuire, director of psychology for the Developmental Behavioral Health Program at Kennedy Krieger, discusses cognitive behavior therapy and other non-pharmacological ways that children are being treated for anxiety, OCD and other conditions—and to good success. Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger, is the episode host.

Just like adult neurologists, pediatric neurologists take care of conditions and diseases involving the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. They do so in the context of development, from preterm newborns throughout childhood and adolescence into adulthood. On this month’s episode of Your Child’s Brain, we highlight the field of pediatric neurology, including why right now is such an exciting time for the field. Our host, Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger, is joined by Dr. Brenda Banwell, a pediatric neurologist, director of the Department of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

About 1% of all children in the U.S. have multiple significant and chronic health problems, or what’s known as “medical complexity.” Kennedy Krieger happens to be a leading treatment center for children whose medical complexities affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, or muscles. In this episode, Dr. Michelle Melicosta, associate chief medical officer, explains what medical complexity is. Listeners also meet Eleftheria Tzortzakaki, the mother of a young patient with acute flaccid myelitis, a condition that is both rare and complex. As always, Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO, serves as host.

Listen in as our host, Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger, talks with neurologist Dr. Connie Smith-Hicks, an expert on SYNGAP1-related disorder. They discuss this diagnosis as well as ground-breaking, collaborative research into this rare disease and brain function.

February is Rare Disease Month, a time to shine a bright light on the work that goes into identifying, treating, and, ultimately, finding the cures for rare diseases. Join Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger, as he discusses research around rare disease with Dr. Jacqueline Harris, a pediatric neurologist and an international leader in the study of Kabuki syndrome. Also on the show is Kimberly Maxfield, who shares her perspective as the parent of Noah, a preschooler with Kabuki syndrome.

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is disrupted—either because a blood vessel gets blocked or because it breaks and causes bleeding. Many people think strokes only happen to adults, but children—even newborns—can have strokes too. Unfortunately, awareness is low, and strokes in kids are often misdiagnosed, which can lead to dangerous delays in treatment. Just like in adults, recognizing the signs quickly can make a big difference in recovery and outcomes for kids. Join Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute, along with Drs. Ryan Felling, Laura Malone, and Richard Boada, as they talk about what families need to know about strokes in children.