DOCUMENT

Headlines 3 Over the last couple of months our supporters have sent in their need to know questions about neurological conditions and research. We couldn’t answer all of them at this time, but we picked the ones we thought many of you would want to know a little bit more about. Our in-house Research Manager, Dr Sarah Schonberger and Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Neil Anderson have done their best to answer them with what information and research is currently available. Must have answers to your scientific questions! symptoms because the nerve cells and nerve pathways in the brain stem are packed closely together. QUESTION 3: THE THIRD QUESTION IS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY SCHIZOPHRENIA. My burning question (as per your Autumn newsletter) is: Is schizophrenia listed as a neurological condition? If so, could this reasonably be expected to worsen as a sufferer grows older, as most neurological conditions do? ANSWER: DR NEIL ANDERSON Schizophrenia is not listed or regarded as a neurological condition. Having said that, some neurological conditions can present with symptoms that are very similar to schizophrenia. In addition, brain imaging studies have shown subtle abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. In other words, schizophrenia and neurology may be more closely linked than previously believed. At present, however, patients with schizophrenia are managed best by psychiatrists. Neurologists do not have the expertise to manage patients with schizophrenia. QUESTION 1: OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM A SUPPORTER ABOUT TINNITUS. I have suffered from tinnitus for many years. Over 12 years ago I was involved in a 6-month study at Auckland University. They gave me hearing aids with a soothing sound built into them. Unfortunately, that didn't make any difference to my tinnitus. Do you do any research into this disability? ANSWER : DR SARAH SCHONBERGER In the last decade the Foundation has funded nearly half a million towards tinnitus research. The most recent project grant of $197,910 was awarded to Associate Professor Yiwen Zheng, investigating the use of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus. In our Summer edition of Headlines, we profiled Associate Professor Yiwen Zheng, who is part of group at the University of Otago researching treatments for tinnitus. QUESTION 2: OUR SECOND QUESTION COMES FROM A SUPPORTER INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SILENT STROKES. I am a keen reader of Headlines, and would be interested in finding out more about silent strokes, and how it is that people can keep functioning without noticing either the stroke or the after- effects (depending of course on the area of the brain affected by the stroke). I have a personal interest in silent strokes affecting R frontal lobe and R cerebellum. ANSWER: DR NEIL ANDERSON Asymptomatic or silent strokes are common. Old silent strokes are often found in scans in people who present with an acute stroke and in people who have had a scan for some other reason. There are two main reasons why a stroke may be silent. The first is size. Most silent strokes are small. The second factor is the location of the stroke. A small stroke in the right frontal lobe, the cerebellum or the deep white matter of the brain is more likely to be silent than one in other parts of the brain. A stroke in part of the brain that is involved in the control of language or movement is much less likely to be silent. Most strokes in the brain stem cause ? If you have a question you'd like to submit or have any further questions about the answer provided, please contact us through email at marketing@neurological.org.nz and submit your question or comment. Ask a scientist or clinician!