Category Archives: Government/Research

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.)

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.

2025 NIH Studies Reinforce Benefits of Yoga & Mindfulness for Brain Injury Survivors

Yoga and mindfulness serve as complementary practices that enhance both physical and mental well-being through integrated approaches combining movement, breath awareness, and present-moment attention. TBI of the Hill reported in 2018 that the federal government designated September as Yoga Awareness Month beginning in 2008. Since that time, the NIH research has continued to expand on the understanding of these therapeutic interventions for brain injury survivors.

Recent studies demonstrate sustained scientific commitment to mindfulness-based approaches for neurological recovery. On June 27, 2025, the NIH published a study, “Acceptability of a Brain-Injury-Tailored Yoga and Meditation Program Among Female Patients with Concussion.” In February of this year, another NIH research showed “mindfulness-based stress reduction as perceived by individuals with pathological mental fatigue after an acquired brain injury” provides essential coping mechanisms for survivors managing chronic fatigue and cognitive challenges. Current investigations also examine barriers to “adopting mindful medicine among physicians,” indicating growing clinical acceptance within medical communities.

The ongoing research validates earlier findings about yoga’s effectiveness in managing post-injury emotional regulation difficulties and neurological symptoms. These evidence-based studies offer hope for developing standardized rehabilitation protocols within medical settings.

The practice’s widespread cultural acceptance transcends political boundaries. Current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s family embraces yoga traditions through his granddaughter’s enthusiasm for the practice, while commercially available yoga mats feature Kennedy, Trump, and former President Obama—himself a known mindfulness practitioner who demonstrated these principles throughout his presidency.

As NIH research continues, these studies provide crucial foundations for integrating yoga and mindfulness interventions within rehabilitation medicine, potentially transforming recovery outcomes for brain injury survivors nationwide.

Preventing Delirium & Death with Dexmedetomidine

Studies show dexmedetomidine can dramatically help brain injury patients by cutting death rates nearly in half and speeding recovery. As reported on nature.com on August 22, 2025, and studied and published by the National Institute of Health for years, this medication works by calming the brain’s stress response and reducing harmful inflammation that worsens brain damage.

Dexmedetomidine is a non-opioid sedative drug that keeps patients comfortable without suppressing their breathing like other medications. Rather than just helping in the early days, research shows patients benefit throughout their entire hospital stay, with longer treatment providing even greater protection.

Delirium—a dangerous state of confusion that’s very common in brain injury patients—significantly increases the risk of death and complications. Remarkably, dexmedetomidine prevents delirium in many patients, which explains much of why it saves lives.

Unsurprisingly, there are concerns, though. Specifically, dexmedetomidine temporary drops the heart rate and blood pressure, therefore requiring careful monitoring by medical staff.  Based of all this information, dexmedetomidine appears to be a potent treatment for some, but not all, brain injury patients.

Bipartisan Effort to Eliminate Unhealthy Food Benefits the Brain

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), industrially manufactured products containing ingredients rarely used in home kitchens, such as emulsifiers, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and stabilizers, has been at the forefront of the federal Department of Health and Human Services in 2025. These foods undergo extensive processing and include products such as packaged snacks, frozen meals, sodas, processed meats, hot dogs, chips, candy, ice cream, instant noodles, ready-to-eat cereals, packaged baked goods, and more. 

Health experts and the federal government have been particularly concerned about UPFs’ impact on brain injury, related to both tbi recovery and stroke risk, for years.  According to research, a 10% increase in UPF intake raises cognitive impairment risk by 16% and stroke risk by 8-15%. Not only do UPFs not “trigger our normal satiety” but an 10% increase in UPF intake raises cognitive impairment risk by 16% and stroke risk by 8-15%. Research shows higher UPF consumption was associated with a 28% faster rate of cognitive decline and 25% faster executive function decline. They can also negatively impact recovery by disrupting the brain’s ability to heal and create new neural pathways.  As they increase inflammation and impair recovery, all brain injury patients are advised to avoid these foods.

The Trump administration has worked to create the first federal definition of ultra-processed foods through a joint request for information from the Agriculture Department, Health and Human Services, and FDA. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made UPFs central to his “Make America Healthy Again” movement, calling them harmful to public health and advocating for reduced consumption through education campaigns. In July 23, 2025, the FDA, in conjunction with the USDA and HHS, released a report stating, “Dozens of scientific studies have found links between the consumption of foods often considered ultra-processed with numerous adverse health outcomes, including… neurological disorders.”

Democrats generally haven’t contradicted these positions on UPFs. For example, in January 2025, California Governor Newsom issued an executive order to crack down on ultra-processed foods, demonstrating bipartisan concern about these products.

(Criticism of MAHA tends to focus on implementation approaches rather than the underlying goal of reducing UPF consumption, showing shared recognition of the importance of nutrition policy for brain health and stroke prevention.)

Professor Honored by Military for Groundbreaking TBI Research

Mary Jo Pugh, PhD, RN, a University of Utah epidemiology professor, recently earned national recognition with an Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award from the 2025 Military Health System Research Symposium. Reported on Monday, August 18 by the University, she is one of only two investigators nationwide to receive this honor. Pugh was celebrated for her pioneering work uncovering the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans.

Pugh leads critical research for the Department of Defense and VA, directing the Data and Biostatistics Core for LIMBIC-CENC, the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium – Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (www.limbic-cenc.org/). Her work has revealed previously unknown connections between TBI and conditions like dementia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. By integrating VA and DoD health data, Pugh’s research helps identify veterans at highest risk for complications, paving the way for preemptive interventions and improved care for those who served.