OHSU Brain Institute

Thousands of kids in mental health crisis are stuck for days in hospital emergency rooms, study finds America's youth mental health crisis has escalated to the point that thousands of children primarily suffering from suicide-related behaviors and depression are stuck in hospital emergency rooms for three days or more, according to new research from Ore...

America's youth #MentalHealth crisis has escalated to the point that thousands of children primarily suffering from suicide-related behaviors and #depression are stuck in hospital emergency rooms for three days or more. https://t.co/HG4QYRstg0

Why Doctors Say You Shouldn't Tape Your Mouth Shut at Night Mouth taping may look like a sleep hack on TokTik, but doctors say it could actually harm your health.

Doctors caution against mouth taping, a viral sleep hack linked to risks like worsening #sleep apnea, #snoring, and even suffocation. https://www.mensfitness.com/news/mouth-taping-sleep-risks

How to get the best night's sleep: what the science says Chuck the gadgets, the fads and the alarm. Circadian research reveals how important your body's internal clock is to blissful slumber.

#Circadian research reveals how important your body’s internal clock is to blissful slumber. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03148-8

OHSU first in nation to use new, incisionless surgery to treat Parkinson's Focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor now FDA-approved as a primary treatment for Parkinson's; benefits OHSU patients in Oregon, across the country.

Carolina Palacios de Ramirez became the first patient in the U.S. to be treated for advanced #ParkinsonsDisease using high-frequency #FocusedUltrasound at @ohsunews.bsky.social. https://news.ohsu.edu/2025/10/28/ohsu-first-in-nation-to-use-new-incisionless-surgery-to-treat-parkinsons

High THC Levels May Affect Egg Quality and Fertility, New Study Finds THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of THC -- the compound in marijuana that causes a “high” -- may affect how eggs develop and could lead to

High levels of #THC may affect how eggs develop and could lead to #fertility problems, #miscarriages and chromosome issues in embryos, new research shows. https://www.healthday.com/health-news/drug-center/high-thc-levels-may-affect-egg-quality-and-fertility-new-study-finds

NIH Funds New Autism Studies on Genes and Environment as Trump Focuses on Tylenol The National Institutes of Health is investing $50 million into research on genetic and environmental factors underlying autism--news that was eclipsed by President Donald Trump's recent controversial claims about acetaminophen

The National Institutes of Health is investing $50 million into research on #genetic and environmental factors underlying #autism: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nih-funds-new-autism-studies-on-genes-and-environment-as-trump-focuses-on/

Accolades: Awards, honors and appointments October Accolades: Awards, honors and appointments October

New research by OHSU's Dr. Hui Wu found that fusobacterium nucleatum, commonly associated with #GumDisease, can amplify the #brain’s response to #amphetamines by enhancing dopamine signaling. https://news.ohsu.edu/2025/10/20/accolades-awards-honors-and-appointments-october-6914206#Wu

Some people tape their mouths shut at night. Doctors wish they wouldn't Some people are taping their mouths shut to improve sleep, but doctors advise against this practice.

"The studies behind mouth tape are small, the benefits are modest and the potential risks are there." https://apnews.com/article/mouth-nose-breathing-wellness-apnea-3e72f43bac0ab9f20c8f174347dca9fb

How Socializing Protects Cognitive Health in Older Adults As we get older, keeping our minds sharp becomes increasingly important--and fortunately, one of the best ways to protect our brain health is also one of the most fulfilling: building and maintaining meaningful social connections.

As we get older, keeping our minds sharp becomes increasingly important—and fortunately, one of the best ways to protect our #brain health is also one of the most fulfilling: building and maintaining meaningful social connections. https://t.co/XFolLuzWh1

The Next Privacy Frontier: Your Brain The potential of brain-computer interfaces ‘could be magical,' but their collection of large amounts of neural data also raises privacy concerns, warn experts.

"What the technology [brain-computer interfaces] is doing is giving you so many options for communicating. It’s learning what your words are, and this has been a huge leap in the field." https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/brain-computer-interfaces-raise-neuroprivacy-concerns-2025a1000p9c?form=fpf

Veterans needed for Alzheimer’s Study - Tigard Life Veterans are needed for a study to help improve how Alzheimer’s disease is detected and diagnosed in Veterans. Participation requirements will be explained in Oregon Health Science University Professo...

#Veterans are needed for a study to help improve how #AlzheimersDisease is detected and diagnosed in Veterans. https://tigardlife.com/local-news/veterans-needed-for-alzheimers-study/

Four individuals standing in front of a banner that reads "We Are The Change" at an event, wearing shirts with advocacy messages such as "Research: Not without us" and "Black Memory Matters."

Four individuals holding signs with advocacy messages stand in front of a starry backdrop with the logo "WPA." Two signs read "Research! Not without us," and the others state "BLACK MEMORY MATTERS" and "WE ARE THE CHANGE."

Four individuals posing in front of a backdrop with the text "We Are the Change" and a decorative light string overhead. They are holding signs with messages promoting change and research.

We’re thankful for our Black and African American research participants who continue to shape the future of #brain health research at @ohsunews.bsky.social.

Learn how you can get involved: bit.ly/laytontrials.

#OHSU #OHSUBrain #OHSUResearch #Alzheimers #AlzheimersResearch

Struggling With Brain Fog And Fatigue? You Might Be Lacking This 1 Essential Mineral Treating the issue could help you feel much better, but it may take some self-advocacy.

Struggling with #brain fog and fatigue? You might be iron deficient. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iron-deficiency-anemia-fatigue-brain-fog-goog_l_68c31252e4b072943c55e08c/amp

Study links marijuana use during IVF to higher risk of abnormal embryos Researchers found marijuana's active ingredient may disrupt egg cells and embryos, adds to research that marijuana use can negatively affect male fertility.

“That exposure, especially to higher levels of #cannabis or specifically #THC, can be associated with worsening fertility, increased reproductive complications, and potentially increased adverse outcomes for #pregnancy.” https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/09/marijuana-use-ivf-embryo-risks-reported/

We loved seeing so many familiar faces at the Mama Joe Project screening!

Research at the OHSU Layton Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is helping scientists find new ways to prevent, detect, and treat #memory loss and #dementia.

Join us: bit.ly/laytontrials.

Study suggests new approach for treatment of spinal injuries Randomized clinical trial involves patients at OHSU, 12 other large U.S. trauma centers.

A randomized clinical trial at @OHSUNews and a dozen other large U.S. trauma centers suggests maintaining normal blood pressure for patients with acute spinal cord injury results in better long-term outcomes. https://t.co/2MfxKIFZkc #OHSUResearch

The U.S. National Institutes of Health granted $50M this week to fund 13 #autism research projects. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-nihs-50-million-autism-initiative-grounded-science-2025-09-25/

Marijuana may cause chromosomal defects in human egg cells, study finds | CNN Higher levels of THC may cause chromosomal malformations in human eggs that may lead to infertility and miscarriage, a new study found.

#Marijuana may damage oocytes — unfertilized eggs in female ovaries — in ways researchers worry may lead to infertility, miscarriage and possible genetic defects in babies, new research has found. https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/09/health/marijuana-female-fertility-study-wellness

Racism Isn't Just Stressful -- It Could Be Tied to Alzheimer's, Research Shows “We've understudied the Black population in relation to the causes,” says epidemiologist.

While stories of diminished #brain function are often written off as a downside to #aging, #Alzheimers and other #dementia have been increasingly normalized, particularly for Black Americans. https://www.bet.com/article/7n5r78/racism-isnt-just-stressful-it-could-be-tied-to-alzheimers-research-shows

Conventional wisdom on spinal cord treatment needs another look, OHSU study finds | The Lund Report Data from more than a dozen trauma centers suggests a different approach to maintaining patients' post-injury blood pressure may pose less risk of harm

Data from more than a dozen trauma centers suggests a new approach to maintaining patients’ post-injury #BloodPressure may pose less risk of harm for spine patients. https://www.thelundreport.org/content/conventional-wisdom-spinal-cord-treatment-needs-another-look-ohsu-study-finds #OHSUResearch

OHSU researchers snag $6.7M NIH grant to study cannabis effects - Portland Business Journal The National Institutes of Health may have canceled thousands of grants this year, but some studies are getting funded.

OHSU researchers have received a grant from NIH to investigate how #cannabis use during #pregnancy may affect pregnancy outcomes for pregnant people with HIV. https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2025/09/22/ohsu-nih-grant-cannabis.html

Doctors Warn Pregnant Patients to Avoid Cannabis, New Guidance Says MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant people should stay away from cannabis, and doctors should ask all patients about its use before, during and a

Researchers now know that #THC, the psychoactive compound in #cannabis, can cross the placenta and transfer into breast milk in pregnant mothers. https://www.healthday.com/health-news/pregnancy/doctors-warn-pregnant-patients-to-avoid-cannabis-new-guidance-says

Children in Crisis Languishing in ERs For Days MONDAY, Aug. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Thousands of children at risk for suicide or in the throes of depression spend days languishing in hospital ERs, awaiti

More than 1 in 10 children sent to a hospital for a #MentalHealth condition wound up waiting in the ER for three to seven days before a bed became available. https://t.co/RaYlZ8cW2n

For-Profit Corporations Are Buying Up More Psychiatric Hospitals. Some Flout Federal Law With Scarce Repercussions. Psychiatric hospitals -- increasingly owned by for-profit corporations -- are illegally turning away patients during crises. Yet only a handful face penalties, with fines that are trivial, a ProPublica investigation found.

#Psychiatric hospitals — increasingly owned by for-profit corporations — are illegally turning away patients during crises. https://www.propublica.org/article/psychiatric-hospitals-emtala-mental-health-profit

Promotional poster for a free Alzheimer's Association Community Conference on October 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bear Hotel in Grants Pass, Oregon. The poster includes the logos of sponsors such as AARP, Regence, Carpenters Trust of Western Washington, and Oregon Health & Science University. The image shows a person in the foreground looking at the camera with a conference scene in the background.

Join the Alzheimer's Association - Oregon & Southwest Washington Chapter, AARP Oregon, Oregon Care Partners and OHSU at the Bear Hotel in Grants Pass for a FREE, half-day event on #brain health, #aging and #Alzheimers science.

Sign up: https://www.alz.org/orswwa/events/community-conferences

Youth in mental health crisis often spend days waiting in ER, OHSU study finds A new study found that 1 in 10 youth facing a mental health crisis waited days in the emergency room. We'll hear from a researcher and a psychiatrist to learn more.

Around one in 10 youth enrolled in #Medicaid spent days stuck in the emergency room after being admitted for a #MentalHealth crisis. https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/18/youth-in-mental-health-crisis-often-spend-days-waiting-in-er-ohsu-study-finds/

New Brain Shunt Surgery Trial Restores Walking and Independence in Older Adults with Inph | Newswise Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a treatable condition caused by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that leads to walking and balance problems, memory decline, and bladder control issues. Researchers report the disorder effe...

A new study in collaboration with OHSU and other institutions, identified a type of shunt in the #brain restores mobility and physical safety in older adults with idiopathic normal pressure #hydrocephalus.

Cannabis Poisonings Are Rising, Mostly Among Kids (Gift Article) As products like weed gummies proliferate, more children and teens are suffering symptoms including seizures and life-threatening breathing problems.

#Cannabis poisonings are rising, mostly among kids: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/health/cannabis-poisoning-children.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dE8.EZNP.ysh9JRDCuu3-&smid=url-share

ADHD: Not a Diagnosis but a Warning Label ADHD may be viewed as an expression of a mismatch between a person’s capabilities and their environment.

#ADHD: Not a Diagnosis but a Warning Label. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/adhd-not-diagnosis-warning-label-2025a1000kwu

As products like #weed gummies proliferate, more children and teens are suffering symptoms including seizures and life-threatening breathing problems. https://t.co/H67KAeLrDE