Author Archives: tbionthehill

Digital Double-Edged Sword for the Brain

With over 4.9 billion active users globally spending an average of 2.5 hours daily on social media platforms, concerns about users’ neurological impact are mounting.

Parental and professional concern is warranted, it seems.  Social media platforms continue promoting risky challenges that can cause brain injuries. For example, the recent “Run It Straight” challenge on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook involves participants sprinting toward each other and colliding at full force, creating what experts call “engineered systems for brain injury” with impacts similar to that of unbelted car crashes.

The worry, though, goes beyond risky behavior. The landmark July 8, 2025 NIH study “Modern Day High: The Neurocognitive Impact of Social Media Usage” found that social media use causes marked alterations in brainwave activity, with Beta and Gamma waves heightened during engagement and continuing after use, which potentially interferes with emotional regulation and attention.

Statistically, 74% of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) use the internet. While this may be a lesser amount, compared to 84% of the general population, social media can be of greater risk for the brain injured population. Specifically, those with brain injuries face unique challenges navigating digital spaces due to cognitive impairments affecting memory, attention, and decision-making.

The growing concern has been felt in the government, too. Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently warned, “Congress has not stepped up to its responsibility to protect our kids. They need to act now” regarding social media’s impact on developing brains. In the past few years, there has been an increase in funding for research into digital wellness and brain health initiatives targeting vulnerable populations. However, if, and to what level, the government should be involved in an individual’s social media activity is very much up for debate.

Yet social media isn’t entirely harmful. Rehabilitation professionals report that it can reduce social isolation for brain injury patients and support community reintegration. Still, “ongoing robust research is urgently required to give rehabilitation professionals an evidence-based framework” for safe implementation.

Your Brain and Lungs Talk to Each Other—And That Could Save Lives

Groundbreaking research published in September 2025 by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine reveals that brain injuries send deadly molecular messengers throughout the body that directly attack lung tissue. The team discovered the “neural-respiratory inflammasome axis,” where injured brains release tiny particles called extracellular vesicles that travel through blood and trigger lung cell death.

Up to 30% of brain injury patients develop acute lung injury, significantly increasing mortality risk. For decades, doctors assumed this lung damage was just a ventilator side effect, but Miami researchers proved the brain actively sends inflammatory signals that kill lung cells.

The federal government recognizes this critical brain-lung connection. NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli recently explained to Congress: “We’re finding that this barrier prevents drugs from getting into the brain where they need to work, and we’re finding certain techniques are able to open that barrier,” calling it “an incredible active area of research to bring more effective therapies to those affected by neurologic diseases.”

The research offers unexpected hope. Dr. Kristine O’Phelan, a Miami specialist, discovered that enoxaparin—a blood thinner—provides dual protection. “It is exciting to consider that using enoxaparin for routine prophylaxis of thromboembolic complications may also help our patients by preventing pulmonary complications as well,” she explained.

This discovery demonstrates how research can translate into life-saving applications for brain injury patients.

The “Smart” Mushroom

This week, Wired published a story featuring the Lion’s Mane mushroom. The article includes recipes that use this fungi, which has a distinctive seafood-like texture, such as “crab” cakes and mushroom ragu. Such an article begs the question as to why a publication known for its technological news would choose to focus on an ancient food.

In fact, the Lion’s Mane mushroom has been gaining scientific attention in the past several years for its potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for brain health and traumatic brain injury recovery. Recent research published by the National Institutes of Health has explored this distinctive white, shaggy mushroom’s neuroprotective properties.

This fungi contains unique compounds called hericenones and erinacines that can stimulate nerve growth factor synthesis, which have been shown to aid in cognitive function, memory, and neurological recovery. Studies suggest benefits for conditions ranging from mild cognitive impairment (mTBI) to traumatic brain injury, with additional advantages for immune system support, gut health, and inflammation reduction.

“The mushroom’s capacity to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis has highlighted its potential in preventing and managing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,” according to a 2025 NIH research review. Earlier NIH research notes that “erinacine C treatment led to significantly reduced brain inflammation and normalization of mTBI-induced deficits through the modulation of the Nrf2 activation pathway.”

Based on this research, it appears consumption of Lion’s Mane mushrooms could prove beneficial to all people, brain damaged or not. 

(Experts caution that most studies remain in animal models, human clinical trials are limited. Consultation with healthcare providers is recommended before supplementation.)

Navy’s Secret Brain Injury Study

The United States Navy’s secretive Project Odin’s Eye, which studies traumatic brain injuries among elite fighter pilots, has prompted a congressional investigation into the service’s handling of aviator health risks.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (KY) and Military Affairs Subcommittee Chairman William Timmons (SC) are demanding answers about the project, which was launched without formal approval from Navy Medical and Air Commands. The initiative, originally created for Navy SEALs in 2024, quietly expanded to include TOPGUN pilots experiencing brain trauma from repeated catapult launches, high-G maneuvers, and arrested carrier landings.

Last year, Congress responded with the Blast Overpressure Safety Act, which would have required all military branches to track blast exposure and implement baseline brain scans for recruits. H.R.8025 was introduced to the House on April 16, 2024, by Rep. Ro Khanna (CA); S.4109 was presented to the Senate on April 11, 2024, by Elizabeth Warren (MA). Both bills were referred to their respective Committee of Armed Services, but no further action seems to have been taken.

On Monday, September 15, 2025, the independent news source Navy Times published information regarding that current Congressional investigation that reveals the hidden toll these forces take on naval aviators. The article quotes pilots who describe carrier landings as “controlled crashes” that subject their brains to repeated jolting trauma.

Cursive Writing Benefits to Students & the Brain Injured

Cursive writing functions as a complex motor skill that can remarkably persist even when brain injury patients lose explicit memory of how to perform it. This surprising phenomenon occurs because cursive engages procedural memory systems stored in the basal ganglia and cerebellum, which often remain intact when other cognitive functions are impaired. Recent NIH-funded research demonstrates that “attempting to write each letter produces a unique pattern of activity in the brain,” as Stanford’s Dr. Frank Willett explained in a 2025 study. A comprehensive 2025 analysis published by the NIH found that cursive writing creates enhanced connectivity across motor, visual, and memory regions.

For brain injury survivors, studies suggest cursive practice offers superior rehabilitation benefits. Unlike typing, which “relies on repetitive finger movements,” cursive engages “fine motor coordination and smooth transitions between letters,” activating broader neural networks crucial for recovery, according to recent university research. The continuous motor control required for cursive helps rebuild damaged neural pathways and enhances fine motor skills essential for rehabilitation.

Currently, many states have been dropping cursive instruction as a curriculum requirement, but recent neurological evidence has prompted policy reversals. New Jersey State Senator Angela McKnight recently advanced legislation requiring cursive proficiency by fifth grade, stating: “We’re doing our children a disservice by not teaching them a vital skill they will need for the rest of their lives.” California, Kentucky, and New Hampshire have reinstated requirements after recognizing cursive’s cognitive benefits. This resurgence reflects growing understanding that cursive writing enhances memory retention, motor control, and neural integration—benefits particularly valuable for cognitive development and including for those with a brain injury.

Tylenol Under Fire Following 2025 Safety Review

Tylenol (acetaminophen) faces renewed scrutiny over potential links to autism, with significant government attention in 2025. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to release a report this month linking prenatal acetaminophen use to autism spectrum disorder, according to September 2025 Wall Street Journal reporting.

This follows a Mount Sinai study published in August 2025 that applied rigorous methodology to evaluate 46 studies, finding “strong evidence of an association” between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism. However, researchers emphasized this shows association, not causation. Prior to 2025, the NIH published a study, Acute acetaminophen intoxication induces direct neurotoxicity in rats manifested as astrogliosis and decreased dopaminergic markers in brain areas associated with locomotor regulation, in 2019. Additionally, in 2023, the University of North Carolina provided the NIH another study, Dangers of Acetaminophen for Neurodevelopment.

The scientific community remains divided. While autism is a neurodevelopmental condition occurring during brain development, early brain injuries can increase risks of similar symptoms due to overlapping characteristics. Tylenol’s widespread use for treating mild brain injuries adds complexity, as it interacts with 160 medications, some prescribed for neurological conditions.

Medical organizations maintain acetaminophen’s importance. “There is no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and fetal developmental issues,” stated Dr. Christopher Zahn of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in early September 2025. The drug remains crucial for managing fever and pain during pregnancy, when untreated conditions pose significant risks.

The NIH has been funding substantial autism research this year, with 25 awards from a $50 million initiative in 2025. Regardless of the findings of these studies, individual treatment decisions should always involve healthcare providers, balancing individual risk-benefit assessments rather than broad restrictions.

The Healing Power of Roses

As we reflect on this September 11 day of remembrance and resilience, the rose’s message of renewal feels especially profound. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum honors this daily, by placing a single white rose at each inscribed victim’s name on his or her birthday. For those with a brain injury, this easy-to-find and symbolic flower has a value beyond remembrance. It has been found that the scent of a rose can help rebuild a damaged brain. It may sound like poetry, but science is discovering that the flower holds remarkable therapeutic potential for brain injury survivors.

Both fresh roses and rose essential oils can support brain injury recovery through multiple pathways. Recent research shows that rose aromatherapy increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein crucial for neural repair and new connections. Even patients who lose their sense of smell after brain injury—approximately 20%—can still benefit, as rose compounds enter the bloodstream through breathing and cross the blood-brain barrier to provide therapeutic effects beyond direct scent perception.

Sleep is critical for healing, but up to 75% of brain injury survivors report issues with sleep, and roses excel here too. A groundbreaking University of California study found that nightly aromatherapy produced a stunning 226% improvement in memory performance by enhancing brain pathways during sleep. As HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill stated in July 2025, “Millions of Americans are living with the damage caused by strokes and traumatic brain injuries. Current treatments are not enough”—making natural therapies increasingly valuable.

The rose’s symbolism adds psychological benefits to its physiological effects. Across cultures, roses represent transformation, hope, and the strength to bloom despite thorns—qualities essential for recovery journeys. Since rose season continues for a bit longer, until the first frost, survivors can now incorporate fresh blooms into their healing routine, and continue year-round, by using rose oil to harness nature’s gentle power for neural restoration.

HIV Drug Unlocks Brain’s Hidden Healing Power

It may seem counterintuitive, but the injured brain can heal itself too much, medically known as maladaptive neuroplasticity.Imagine now if your brain had a built-in safety switch that prevented this. Scientists have discovered that’s exactly what happens with a protein called CCR5 – a cellular receptor that acts like a biological brake and the loss of which can result in memory loss and impairing recovery after brain trauma.

Maraviroc is a prescription antiretroviral medication originally developed to treat HIV by blocking the virus from entering cells through this same CCR5 receptor. Specifically, the drug works by preventing certain HIV strains from infecting immune cells when used alongside other HIV medications.

As an HIV drug, it was already known to improve neurocognitive functioning. The medication enhances the brain’s natural ability to repair and rewire itself, a capability that would also be greatly impactful for those with brain injuries. In fact, research into TBI and CCR5 on the NIH site shows that studies have spanned nearly a decade, with promising results. For example, multiple studies have shown that “maraviroc blocked CCR5 in mice and boosted the animals’ recovery from traumatic brain injury and stroke.” Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael at UCLA remarked about this connection, stating “this is the first time that a human gene has been linked to a better recovery from stroke.”

Real-world impacts of this treatment are emerging. The story of Debra McVean, featured in a New York Times article on September 4, 2025, documents how she participated in a clinical trial of maraviroc after suffering a stroke that paralyzed her left side. A month later, her neurocognitive skills had healed to the point that she could initiate movement in her fingers.

Computer Vision Reveals Covert Consciousness

A study, completed in late August 2025 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40835724/), has validated SeeMe, a computer vision tool that could transform how doctors assess consciousness in comatose brain injury patients. The research from Stony Brook University, started in 2019, demonstrates that SeeMe can detect subtle facial movements indicating awareness days before clinicians recognize recovery signs.

SeeMe uses high-resolution cameras to track facial pore movements with sub-millimeter precision, analyzing responses to voice commands like “open your eyes” or “stick out your tongue.” In tests, the system consistently detected eye-opening responses several days earlier than clinical examination and identified consciousness in significantly more patients compared to standard bedside assessments.

These tests show that this new technology addresses a critical gap in patient care, as many brain injury patients may be covertly conscious despite appearing unresponsive. These micro-movements, invisible to the human eye, correlate with better recovery outcomes and can inform crucial treatment decisions.

Researchers plan to integrate SeeMe with brain monitoring technologies like EEG (electroencephalogram) to develop comprehensive consciousness assessment tools. The hope is that this system could guide rehabilitation timing, facilitate family discussions, and potentially enable communication interfaces for patients previously thought unreachable. As a healthcare advances, SeeMe represents a significant step toward more precise, objective neurological assessment.

Old Lessons, New Risks: Mosquito Prevention in 2025

Mosquitoes present their greatest threat during summer and fall months, with peak activity from July through October between dusk and dawn. The southeastern United States, Great Lakes region, and areas near freshwater wetlands face the highest risks from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, but all regions of the United States are at risk.

Growing up, the majority of the mosquito bites I was subject to occurred on the school playground. As school begins, it should be noted that children face unique vulnerabilities to certain mosquito-borne illnesses. Eastern Equine Encephalitis proves most severe in infants, while La Crosse encephalitis primarily affects children under 16. The CDC reports that as of September 2, 2025, there were 577 total West Nile cases nationally, with 356 being neuroinvasive cases affecting the brain and nervous system. (Note that these statistics are somewhat deceptive, as only 37 states reported numbers to the CDC.)

The dramatic shift in children’s outdoor time creates a complex scenario. Today’s children spend an average of only 30 minutes daily in unstructured outdoor play compared to over seven hours with electronic screens. This reduction paradoxically offers some protection from mosquito exposure while potentially leaving children less experienced with prevention strategies when they do venture outdoors. Additionally, I have previously discussed how it has been proven that this lack of in-person human interaction can have its own negative neurological effects.

Despite technological advances, school prevention education to address this risk remains largely unchanged from decades past. Students still learn to wear protective clothing, use EPA-approved repellents containing DEET or picaridin, and eliminate standing water breeding sites. Recent developments include updated repellent formulations and expanded surveillance systems, but fundamental prevention strategies have remained constant.

It has been surmised by some that climate change has extended mosquito seasons in over two-thirds of U.S. locations studied, making year-round vigilance increasingly necessary for protecting public health.