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Learning disablities restricting education of students Homework possibly causing more harm than good Mental disorders affects on everyday life
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Polio vs. Cancer
RM November 20th, 2015
LETTER from the EDITORS
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It controls every movement you make, every idea you form, all the knowledge you have ever absorbed, and all the memories you obtain. Our main purpose of the this magezine is to give insight into the complexity of it all. We cover a wide range of topics that feed into the curiosity of those reading. While we are no experts, we have written these articles after many hours of diligent research. We hope that our magezine fulfils the interest you have for all things brain related. We hope you appreciate our magezine and find the information new and engrossing.
Sydney, Lauren, Olivia, & Madilynn
Table of Contents
Contributors 3 Treating the Untreatable 4-7 The Common Learning Disabilities 8-11 Why You Shouldn’t Do Your Homework 12-15 Cognition 16-17
Contributors
Lauren Rankin
Lauren Rankin has lived in Woodford County her whole life, and is currently a sophomore at Woodford County High School. Lauren has been playing soccer since she was 4 and is now playing for the high school and Lexington FC. She loves to shop and spend time with friends. Lauren would love to go to school in California and pursue a career in the medical field.
Olivia Back
Olivia Back was born and raised in central Kentucky and currently a sophomore in high school. Her passions include dance and traveling. Her future plans are to attend college at the University of Kentucky. She hopes to pursue a career as a physicians assistant or in the medical feild.
Madilynn Horsley Madilynn Horsley is a sophomore at WCHS and is a proud member of the Woodford County Band. She is the youngest of her siblings. In the future Madilynn hopes attend college and pursue a career in the medical field.
Sydney Beavers Born and raised in the heart of the Bluegrass, Sydney is a sophomore at Woodford County High School. She is a varsity soccer and lacrosse player, she is passionate about school spirit, politics, and living life to the fullest. Sydney is a SEC football fanatic and loves Kentucky Basketball. After graduating high school, she plans on attending Ole Miss or The University of Kentucky. She hopes for a career as a pediatric or trauma surgeon. 3
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Treating the Untreatable By Sydney Beavers
Throughout the 20th century, few things left parents as terrified as polio did. Poliomyelitis is the formal name for the virus. When broken down, this mean an infection of the gray matter of the spinal column. It would invade towns in the summer months and leave with stolen childhoods. Polio spreads through contact between people, nasal and oral secretions, as well as contact with contaminated feces. 98% of cases were mild, meaning there were no effects on the body and symptoms at times didn’t even show. The other 2%, called paralytic polio, would enter the bloodstream and attack the nerve cells leading to paralysis. The fatal cases resulted from when the throat and chest became paralyzed and the patient did not seek respiratory support. While there were survivors, they were left with a constant reminder of the virus that took a part of them away. 4
Post-Polio Syndrome affected the survivors in many ways. Their muscles would slowly weaken, they would become fatigued, and their muscles would begin to shrink. Joint degeneration would cause lots of pain and agony for them, as well. However, despite all of the symptoms, PPS rarely claimed a life. The symptoms ranged from person to person, so not all had the same experiences. Before a vaccine was found, polio was seen as a death sentence. The vaccine has decreased the polio cases around the world from 350,000 in 1988 to 416 in 2013. People believed they had seen the last of the malicious disease. Now, however, the virus is being used to treat two words no patient ever wishes to hear: brain cancer. Researchers from the Preston Robert Tisch Brain
This MRI scan above shows a glioblastoma tumor in the right hemisphere of the brain. Photo from sdhsphoenixmagazine. com. Photo editing by Sydney Beavers.
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Tumor Center at Duke University have been working on this treatment for 25 years, and it still has very few cancer patients filing into their offices. Together, the doctors have completely re-engineered the virus by removing a genetic sequence. The part of the virus that is capable of paralysing the patient is replaced with a common strand of the cold virus, which is far less dangerous. The virus plants itself throughout the cancerous cells in the tumor.
during the surgery itself. Chemotherapy, typically shortened to chemo, is the last step. Because of the complexity of the cancer cells of glioblastoma, chemotherapy is not routinely used since it is not seen to improve survival rates. Clinical trials are always being run to try and find a cure for glioblastoma. Duke University’s has been gaining a multitude of attention after being featured on 60 Minutes. They gathered 22 patients for the clinical trial. Out of those 22, 11 of the patients passed away, however, the poliovirus prolonged their life. The other 11 have seen their tumors shrinking.
The body’s cells are not created to do harm. When cells become cancerous, this usually stems from the inability to divide properly. They become dangerous whenever they don’t recognize they need to commit cell suicide. Typically cells will commit suicide when These patients are describing this poliovirus clinical they have miscopied DNA. When the body recognizes trial as two words hardly ever heard in relations to a cancerous cell, it sees it isn’t like normal white cancer: a miracle and a cure. The procedure itself blood cells. Therefore, it will begin to attack as complicated as it may sound. The patient “Two isn’t the cells as if it is a virus-infected cell. Howis taken into surgery to create a path for the words ever, this only helps for so long because the polio virus to travel. The actual act of putcells pose a larger threat to the body than the poliovirus into the tumor involves hardly ever ting recognized originally. the patient being awake. Only half of a heard in re- teaspoon is inserted into the tumor, but to When the cancerous cells develop a keep from the virus from traveling outside lation to cangenetic mutation, they have the ability to of the path and into the brain, the process invade the immune system. This means cer: a mira- is slow, lasting around six hours. the cells will have the ability to avoid the The poliovirus enters the tumor and plants cle and a immune response, meaning that the tumor itself throughout. The immune system recwill begin to grow more rapidly. ognizes the polio and goes to work to demolcure.” ish it. In the process, the immune system is also Glioblastoma, the form of brain cancer being attacking the tumor. The poliovirus is not deadly treated with the polio virus, has a very quick growing because the genetic sequence capable of spreading cancer cells. This makes glioblastoma the deadliest and roaring through the body, is simply replaced with form of brain cancer and is seen as a death sentence. a strand of the common cold. Just one small dosage The average survival rate is 14-15 months, and that is and the patient, if all goes as planned, will see signifionly if 90 percent of the tumor is removed. Not only cant results at their next MRI. that, but if someone is lucky enough to beat the tumor, there is a near 100 percent recurrence rate. The recurThe dosage is critical. With the first two patients in rence occurs an average of six to seven months after the clinical trial, the dosage was proven highly effecthe initial clean scan. tive, shrinking the tumor in a matter of months. For the next few patients the doctors increased the dosage Treatment of glioblastoma is similar to every other in hopes of an even more rapid shrinking rate. Howform of cancer. Surgery is the first step in the grueling ever, this became a fatal dosage. The immune system process. The procedure is highly dangerous given the reacted too violently which caused inflammation of fact that the tumor grows into surrounding brain tissue the tumor, extra pressure in the brain, and then paraland any wrong cut presents grave risks in damaging ysis or death. the lobes. Radiation is used to kill off the remaining cancer cells that are left after the surgery. Radiation can Thankfully, researchers and doctors noticed the effect. be delivered from a beam of energy from outside of They began cutting back on dosages, lower than they the brain or can be delivered through radiation seeds intended for the phase one trial. However, they did 6
Glioblastoma What exactly is the deadly disease and what to expect
Symptoms -Nausea -Headache -Vomiting -Drowsiness
What is it? Glioblastoma is a highly malignant tumor composed of multiple cell types. The cells reproduce rapidly and are supported by a blood vessel network.
Location
Different Types of Glioblastoma Primary The most common type. Makes its presence known quickly
Secondary Represents about 10% of tumors. Slow growth rate, but still very aggressive
Because of the complexity of the cells, treatment is difficult. Surgery is used to remove the tumor. This is then followed by radiation to try and prevent the tumor from growing again. Chemotherapy s not effective since not all of the cancer cells respond to the treatment
Treatment The tumors are usually found in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. However, they can also be found in the spinal column.
Created by Sydney Beavers not expect to see such flourishing results in a phase one trial, considering there are four phases of a clinical trial. They expected none of the patients to survive, they seeked only to figure out the correct procedure steps and dosage amounts. The fact there are survivors in a bonus.
virus out on other forms of cancer. With this, a cure for cancer may be in the near future. A huge step into the complex understanding of the body. For researchers and doctors alike, this is a medical innovation: quite possibly, the largest one yet.
The poliovirus is no longer ruining lives, instead, it is saving them. The researchers hope to try the new polio7
Common Learning Disabilities By Lauren Rankin
Imagine having to sit in a classroom surrounded by people who are able to do their work easily when you have all of this information flowing through your brain, not being able to focus on one thing at a time, and not being able read and understand the information given to you. ADHD, dyslexia, and dysphasia are just some of the common learning disabilities that are well known and prevent students from doing well in school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are around 13% of students with a learning disability in the United States. Some students may not even know that they have a learning disability, but they do. For example, dyslexia has varied symptoms so one might not know they have the disability until they get into more complex and in depth readings and writings. It is not something that just goes away, once you have a learning disability, you are basically stuck with it the rest of your life. Not only does the child have a hard time throughout their
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lifetime, but the parents also have a big responsibility. ADHD ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and is the most common brain disorder in children. It is, however, not considered a learning disability, but it can be determined to be a disability under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), which makes the student eligible for special education services. The Learning Disabilities Association of America says that 30-50% of children with ADHD also have another type of learning disability, usually associated with reading. The most common learning disability in children with ADHD is dyslexia. Having these two conditions together can make learning extremely challenging. This disorder prevents students from staying focussed, paying attention, and controlling their behavior.
For parents, it is hard to tell if their child has ADHD or not until they begin their early school years. Some symptoms that are seen consist of aggression, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. It may not seem like a big deal, but if you were in their situation, you would feel helpless and very frustrated with yourself. It may not seem as if you know many people with the disorder, but it has been estimated that in a classroom of 24-30 people, it is very likely that at least 1 of the students has ADHD. Although it has no cure, ADHD medication and talk therapy may help with the symptoms. Talk therapy is when a therapist helps you cope with feelings and symptoms and change behavioral patterns that deal with the illness. Parents usually go along the path that includes changing the child’s diet. Research has shown that ADHD symptoms are affected by eating specific food. With treatment, most people can be successful in school and live a productive life. The brain of a person with ADHD differs greatly from someone who does not have the disorder. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is quite easy, but putting yourself into someone else’s brain is not as simple as it seems, especially when it is thinking about a million things at once. A neurotypical person is able to control the information that goes into their brain and is able to “filter” out the important stuff and stuff that
is useless. It is however different in the ADHD brain. The person is not able to choose what they want in their mind or not. All the information around them, important or not, is now registered in their brain. This makes it easier for them to make mistakes because they hold on to the wrong information. Having all of this information in their brain makes the stimuli build up. Being overstimulated can either result in the person getting over frustrated or become anxious. DYSLEXIA Most people make dyslexia seem like something that it is not. It is not caused by poor vision or laziness but is a condition that affects the way the brain processes written and spoken language. Doctors mainly refer to dyslexia as a reading disability but it also may affect writing, spelling, and sometimes speaking. Students with dyslexia can understand everything that someone without the disability can, but it just takes them longer and they have to process the information given to them differently. When a child has dyslexia, it does not mean that they are not intelligent because most students with dyslexia have above average intelligence. Reading a single word can be challenging and also remembering the information that they have read for children with this disability. Being able to comprehend what you are reading starts when you get into
Created by Lauren Rankin
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Student trying to focus while doing work. Photo from creativewritingideasandactivities.com.
elementary school. Students that have dyslexia usually have reading comprehension problems because they have to develop the underlying skills that they do not have, but are greatly needed. Teachers teach the students to connect letters to sounds which then leads to them being able to sound out words. Once the student is able to sound out a word and be able to know what the meaning is, they can soon be able to make sense of a whole sentence. Kids who are struggling with reading can rarely catch up on their own. If parents are able to realize that their child has reading problems and is able to go to a doctor to diagnose that they have dyslexia by third grade it is easier for them to catch up because this is the grade where reading is a necessary skill. Researches are still trying to figure out the exact reason why dyslexia is caused. They have figured out that dyslexia often runs in families. If a child has dyslexia, it is very common that a relative has the disability also. Scientists have found the genes associated with reading and language processing issues. The brain anatomy is extremely different from those with and without dyslexia. A person without the disability has a brain where the left hemisphere of the brain, which is more dominant for right handed people, is bigger than the right hemisphere. However, a child who has dyslexia usually has a brain where both hemispheres are the same size. DYSPHASIA Dysphasia is not as common of a learning disability but is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate due to damage of the brain. The disability can occur in a variety of forms, all depending on how the communicative disruption manifests. Dysphasia can affect more than one of the basic language functions, such as, comprehension, naming, repetition, and speech. Dysphasia is divided into subtypes, expressive, receptive, or global. The main part of the brain that controls speech and language is located on the left side. Dysphasia usually occurs when this part of the brain is damaged. It will differ from person to person depending on which part and how the brain was affected.
Some conditions that can cause dysphasia include a stroke and brain tumor. But it all varies from how the brain was affected during the trauma that occurred. People with the disability experience difficulty remembering information, understanding conversations and gestures, understanding written information, mixing up sounds and words, and controlling automatic language. All of these things may be resolved quickly, or the person may be affected for the rest of his or her life. A speech pathologist advises ways to communicate. How much treatment is needed, if needed, is determined by the difficulty theperson is experiencing. Treatment usually focuses on the person being able to communicate in everyday life. White boards, picture boards, and electronic talkers are all things that can help a person with this disability to communicate. How much treatment is needed, if needed, is determined by the difficulty the person is experiencing. Treatment usually focuses on the person being able to communicate in everyday life. White boards, picture boards, and electronic talkers are all things that can help a person with this disability to communicate. When talking to someone who has dysphasia, you should be aware of the background noise and try to reduce it and the distractions around the person. You also should encourage the person to talk, even if they are struggling. When you say something to the person with the disability, be sure that the person can see your face easily, use simple language, allow the person time to comprehend the information given to them, draw out things, and talk slowly. By doing all of these things, it makes it easier for the person to be able to feel comfortable and not get too frustrated when trying to have a conversation. Not being able to comprehend information and focus the same as other people can be frustrating for people with these disabilities. It affects more of our population than most people think. These disabilities are just some of the common ones that most people are aware of, but there are plenty more.
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Why you Shouldn’t Do Your Homework By: Olivia Back In a recent study conducted by the Stanford Graduate School of Education it was concluded that your homework can make you sick. Not only can it lead to physical health problems it can affect your brain as well. Try telling your teacher that the next time you are assigned a paper or multiple worksheets in one night. Ever since students are young they learn to dislike homework. Through each year of school, the deep loathing students acquire grows just as the amount of homework grows. People always say that homework is bad while others claim it to be the most important part of school. What’s the truth? Are people just presenting their biased opinions or do they know what they are talking about? The University of Phoenix College of Education conducted a poll of public school teachers , and found that high school students are given, on average, 17.5 hours of homework a week. This averages out to be approximately 3.5 hours of homework a weeknight. Leaving students with a limited amount of time to fit in other activities These consist of sports, extracurricular
activities, family time, friends, time to eat, as well as the many other attributes that contribute to a healthy life. Even at a young age the absence of these elements can have negative effects on kids lives. In case you were wondering how much is considered too much, Stanford research reports that more that 2 hours is “counterproductive”. The extra 1.5 hours a night overtime can really have impact on your brain. Impacts on Brain Too much homework causes stress, lack of sleep, and takes away from time for physical activity, family, as well as social interaction. All of these elements make up one’s life, but too much of one and not enough of another is what is crushing teens. Physical activity, family time, and social interaction produce endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are your body’s own legal narcotic. Chemicals in the brain that pass along indicators from one brain cell to the next are called neurotransmitters, or endorphins. Emotions of happiness and pleasure are both produced by endorphins. Activities that produce endorphins in the brain are physical activity and social interaction with others. All of these elements make up one’s life, but too much of one and not enough of another is what is crushing teens. Chemicals in the brain that pass along indicators from one braincell to the next are called neurotransmitters, or endorphins. Emotions of happiness and pleasure are both produced by endorphins. Activities that produce endorphins in the brain are physical activity and social interaction with others.These are the exact activities teens are being
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limited from due to the over assignment of homework. Endeavors such as these are proven to provide teens with benefits to not only their brain but their body as well. A lack of endorphins has been known to cause certain types of mental illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder, rage, anxiety, clinical depression, and emotional shifts.
bolic functions. This was found by Yale University in 2012. Higher risks of mental illness is another side effect of chronic stress. This discovery was made in research conducted by their University of California, Berkeley.
Sleep
Social interaction
Just as your body needs food in order to function, your brain needs sleep. Students have to stay up late slaving over their homework just to try and finish. Sleep is your brain’s time to rest, relax, and repair. Too much homework is robbing teens of valuable hours that could be used getting their necessary amount of shuteye.
Social interaction includes everything from family time, time with friends, and just interacting with other individuals outside of a school setting. Humans are not meant to be alone or go through life alone. It is proven that social interaction and support are vastly beneficial when it comes to one’s emotional and physical well-being. Spending time with others is also positive for the brain. Another way to defend against mental illness is through socialization. There are even specific nerves in the brain that are impacted by social interaction. Neuroplasticity can be improved through socialization and interaction. This is an aspect of the brain that deals with cognitive function, memory, and motivation. All of these abilities allow students to excel in school.
The average teen receives around 7 to 7 ½ hours of sleep a night. The recommended amount is 9 hours of sleep. Sleep is especially crucial as teens are growing and developing. Lack of sleep leaves the brain tired and unable to perform properly throughout the day. The brain’s ability to focus as well as learn new things is disrupted. Creativity, cognitive thinking, long-term, and short-term thinking are debilitated without proper sleep.
Stress Stress in not only harmful to your body but your brain as well. There is very little substantial research about stress and its effects on the brain but, there is a growing number of studies aimed at this pressing question.Stress can be blamed for shrinkingof the brain in areas of emotions as well as and meta14
Stress is a very dangerous thing, especially to teens. In fact, a study done by the American Psychological Association found that teens had a stress level of 5.8 on a 10-point scale. With a 3.8 to be considered healthy researchers found this surprising. This shows that teens have to handle an unhealthy amount of stress, making them more susceptible to its harmful symptoms. Homework is one of the main causes for teens having such high stress rates.
By pressuring them with excessive amounts of homework these elements are being weakened. This is why in the Stanford study more than two hours of homework so is considered “counterproductive”. You only have one brain and that one brain can not be transplanted nor can you get a new one. Homework is suppose to enhance students learning, when it is doing just the opposite. Allowing it to possibly be damaged by homework, is hindering students from reaching their full potential. Physical activity, sleep, and social interaction are essential ingredients in one’s life and development. All three help to support physical and emotional wellbeing. With homework cutting into teens ability to participate in these things, teachers should not assign more than two hours a night. This is across all classes. Homework is beneficial to students learning, but only in respectfull amounts. School is supposed to be an environment of support and where kids feel as though they have an opportunity to succeed. Instead schools are becoming associated with stress and failure in the eyes of students. By overloading students they are becoming stress chambers just waiting to explode. School is supposed to be an environment of support and where kids feel as though they have an opportunity to succeed. Instead schools are becoming associated with stress and failure in the eyes of students. By overloading students they are becoming stress chambers just waiting to explode.
Homework Infographic created By Olivia Back. Information from: http://news.psu.edu/ , http://www.healthline.com/, http://www.apa.org/
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Cognition By: Madilynn Horsley
Mental illness is a prominent topic in today’s world. In the past, little was known about how we can improve the quality of life for people with these issues. Thanks to innovations in technology, treatments have improved. Unfortunately, there is still some stigma associated with having a mental illness. My hope is that we can combat this issue so that those with these conditions don’t feel dehumanized. A way we can fight stigma is by simply educating. Every disorder has a unique set of symptoms. It’s important to be aware of different behaviors so that we can reach out and help others or recognize our own problems. Many people ignore or hide the fact that they have a disorder because they just want to live a normal life. Family and friends are beneficial to the treatment process. Support makes a difference and could save a life.
Schizophrenia
Depression
Depression is a common mental disorder affecting about 6.7% of adults in the U.S. per year. Depression is persistent sadness that interferes with daily life. Those with depression may feel hopeless, have difficulty making decisions, and experience decreased energy. Depression is also a risk factor for suicide. Suicide can be prevented so it’s important to recognize the signs. Signs include a preoccupation with death, a loss of interest in things once enjoyed, and giving away prized possessions. If you or someone you know is suicidal, don’t keep it a secret, get help. You’re never alone, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline exists for a reason. Trained counsellors are available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK.
Impact on U.S. • Nearly 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects around 1% of the American population. People with this disorder often have hallucination and may hear voices.
• 90% of people who commit suicide had a mental illness
These “voices” might talk about the affected individuals behavior, tell the person to do something, or even talk to each other. Schizophrenia can also make it difficult to pay attention and even cause movement disorders. Those affected may repeat specific motions or not move and respond to others.
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death • Untreated mental illness costs $100,000,000,000
When a person won’t move and respond to others it’s known as catatonia. The symptoms of this disorder can make it difficult for a person to care for themselves or hold a job so they often rely on others. 16
Bipolar Disorder
Manic depression or bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by intense episodes of depression and mania. Episodes can also be a mixed state where mania and depression are experienced at the same time. With a depressed episode people may have trouble concentrating, lose interest in activities that they enjoyed, have suicidal thoughts, and feel hopeless. During a manic episode people may be easily distracted, sleep a short amount and not feel tired, increase their number of activities, have an unrealistic belief in their abilities, feel outgoing, and experience racing thoughts.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder is when a person has excessive anxiety. Everyone worries about family and their health, but people with GAD worry even if there is little or no reason to. Those affected often feel keyed up, find it difficult to relax, startle easily, and have sleeping problems. It can also cause headaches, hot flashes, lightheadedness, trembling, and fatigue. People with social phobia or social anxiety disorder feel excessive anxiety in social situations.
Substance Abuse
Alcohol is safe in moderation, but there’s a problem when you can’t control your habit. If you need to drink more to get the same effect and you experience symptoms of withdrawal then you’re dependent on alcohol. Symptoms of withdrawal include shaking, sweating, and feeling sick to your stomach. Alcohol dependence affects not only yourself, but also loved ones. One treatment option is the 12 step program or Alcoholics Anonymous.
Treatment
“Those with anorexia are 18 times more likely to have an early death”
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders include anorexia and bulimia. It’s important to diagnose and treat these conditions because they are extremely detrimental to a person’s health. Those with anorexia are 18 times more likely to have an early death compared to those in their age bracket in the general population. Anorexia is when a person fears gaining weight and often starves themselves. Symptoms of anorexia include a low body weight, low blood pressure, feeling cold, and thinning hair. Bulimia is when a person binges on food and then purges. Symptoms of bulimia include dental problems, irregular periods, heartburn, and weakness. Treatments include fixing diet and exercising an appropriate amount.
Treatments to said disorders are tailored to individual needs, but in general, therapy and medications are used. Therapy helps individuals learn coping techniques and how their illness affects them. Therapy can also be beneficial to families and friends of affected individuals so they can try to see from their viewpoint.
Although medications may have side effects, often times the pros outweigh the cons. If you’re having problems with your medications and want to go off of them make sure to consult your doctor. For example, if you go off of antidepressants the dose needs to be gradually decreased over a period of time because if you cut them cold turkey then there’s a chance of depression relapse. Even though mental disorders can’t be cured, you shouldn’t shy away from help. Managing symptoms will improve quality of life. With better access to technology more people are aware of these conditions and we can continue to keep improving treatment options. We’re all different and embracing it is the first step.
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