Caritas Neuro Solutions

Brain cancer is an issue close to our heart at Caritas!

In this month's podcast (link in comments) we hear all about the wonderful work being done by Funding Neuro and partners on a rare form of paediatric brain cancer called DIPG (Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma).

Funding Neuro CEO David Mulligan talks to Caritas CEO Leigh Fell to discuss the progress and challenges of development treatments for all sorts of neurological conditions.

This was a fascinating discussion.

This podcast is sponsored by Caritas Science Solutions
And hosted by Leigh Fell
Edited by Callum Greens - Wolfie Media

🎉 ANNOUNCEMENT 🎉

Official launch of our new division, Caritas Oncology Solutions.

We offer:
⭐ Combined 52 years of expertise in oncology clinical research
⭐ A passionate team providing the best possible service for sponsors and patients
⭐ Support for oncology pipelines across Phases I to III
⭐ Agile clinical operations support
⭐ Expertise in regulatory and ethics submissions
⭐ Experience of meeting industry trends

💬 Our lovely CEO Leigh Fell says:
“I am extremely proud of how the company has evolved over the last 6 years and really excited for this new phase of our expansion. This feels like the next natural step in our growth, given the high demand for our extensive oncology expertise. We are excited to embrace our market leading position in these keys areas of unmet need to support the development of safe and efficacious treatments for the patients that need them.’’

We will now be known as Caritas Science Solutions 🔬.
This encompasses our new oncology division as well as Caritas Neuro Solutions 🧠 which continues to be a key part of our mission.

Please reach out to find out more on how we can support your study.

Scotland's leading expert explains that dementias are treatable conditions of midlife
https://healthandcare.scot/stories/3412/dementia-brain-sciences-health-research-scotland-scottish-craig-ritchie

Wonderful to have a chance to celebrate together as a team at last night's Scottish Life Science Awards

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Doddie Weir and our thoughts and love go out to his family and friends.

His bravery and positivity was outstanding and he has been an inspiration in his drive to raise awareness and funds to research and overcome MND. His legacy will undoubtedly live on and lead to powerful change in the years to come.

Doddie Weir Statement

So many changes and challenges in the world and in business this year but what remains constant is my gratitude for the incredible team around me at Caritas Neuro Solutions. I feel so fortunate to have the support of such talented and kind people.

Have you ever thought of the heart as a mini brain? What if we could use the microvasculature around the heart as a measure of mental distress? read our latest blog about the heart mind connection
https://caritasneuro.com/head-over-heart-the-neuro-cardiological-biomarkers-of-the-mind/

🗞️⚡️ Check out our recent updates in our newsletter ⚡️🗞️

Read about
⭐ Our development of Caritas Neuro Fitness
⭐ Our latest podcast on migraines available now on Spotify
⭐ How psychedelics actually work in the brain and their therapeutic potential
⭐ Myths surrounding psychedelics...

🗞️ Our newsletter
http://mailchi.mp/f66a540597c0/july-2022-newsletter-7273535

🍄 Our psychedelic blog post
https://caritasneuro.com/how-do-psychedelics-actually-work-and-what-potential-do-they-hold-to-treat-psychiatric-illness/

🧠 Listen to our latest podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vMFGyKvhHpJD1iOLcxXHb?si=70eac6d9bf0b4053

Yesterday there were a bunch of misleading headlines around the link between serotonin and depression.

Here is an excellent summary of comments from experts in reaction.

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-a-review-paper-on-the-serotonin-theory-of-depression/

expert reaction to a review paper on the ‘serotonin theory of depression’ | Science Media Centre Prof Gitte Moos Knudsen, Professor of Neurobiology and Chair of Department of Neurology and Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, said:

there is growing evidence of the link between the gut microbiota and our mental wellbeing

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mood-microbe/202103/the-gut-brain-axis-is-more-important-we-thought

The Gut-Brain Axis Is More Important Than We Thought A new study highlights the gut-brain connection in psychiatric patients.

Pick up a copy of today's The Scotsman newspaper for a special life Sciences report

For mens health week, Caritas would like to encourage all men to check in with their body and mind.

🏃🏽 Whats going on with your body?

🧠 How have you been feeling?

🧘🏼‍♂️ How healthy are your coping mechanisms?

🛌🏼 Are you struggling mentally?

👬🏻 Take some time to talk to someone.

Check

🏋🏻‍♂️ 1. Your physical health with this DIY Man MOT created by Men's Mental Health Forum https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/diy-man-mot

🛀🏼 2. Your wellbeing and mental health with the How are you Really? Quiz https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/how-are-you-really

Ask your man friends the question- how are you? and again, if you don't believe them.

Resource: Mens Health Form

Did you know it's Men's Health Week!

Have you taken your MAN MOT yet?

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw

Time for your MOT We've been through a lot these past couple of years. Covid has not gone away - not at all - but we are beginning to live with it. To do this, we need to be at the top of our game, physically and mentally. So, for this year's Men's Health Week, which runs 13-19 June it's time for you, me and men ever...

⚡️ Last week our amazing business development associate, Eilidh McIntosh moved on to pursue another career opportunity.

✨ We will miss Eilidh, but we are excited to see where this opportunity will take her.

⚡️ She wrote a small essay about her journey from working on a zero hour contract, working for us at Caritas, and her interview for her new role. Give it a read!

✨ Eilidh's story highlights the importance of not giving up on yourself and the hope that the next big thing is just waiting for you around the corner...

https://caritasneuro.com/working-at-caritas-neuro-solutions-by-eilidh-mcintosh/

🦠🧬 ⚡️Happy World Clinical Trials Day! ⚡️🧬🦠

⚡️ We would like to thank all of our friends and colleagues working in drug development and clinical trials in search of treatments and cures for disease and illness.

⚡️ Clinical trials give us hope for future treatments for disease and illness without effective treatments.

⚡️ We are working to develop effective treatments in neglected areas including neurology and mental health.

🌤️☀️Ways to counter vitamin D deficiency

Given that we are based in Scotland, a country that receives less sunlight than the world average, we thought might be prudent to discuss what Vitamin D deficiency can look like from a mental and physical perspective.

Today we will discuss the mental effects, and how we can counteract them. Sunlight is often the best method for getting more vitamin D, but we're conscious that this isn't always a choice for those in more 'dreich' (overcast) climes, or for those who might be bound to the house.

💊 Supplements can extremely helpful and in Scotland, are prescribed for free by the Scottish NHS.

🐟 Oily fish! Salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel are all rich in vitamin D.

🥩 Other food groups also contain vitamin D, most notably red meat, eggs, liver and fortified foods like fatty spreads and breakfast cereals. Expect more posts to follow on this topic in the coming week!

In light of this being Mental Health Awareness Week, it is our privilege to present some helpful tips and tricks to improving your mental wellbeing.

Today, we’ll take a look at the practice of mindfulness and what it can do for our mental health.

Mindfulness is the act of paying attention to the present moment.

Studies have shown that being absorbed in the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing, improving the quality of your thoughts and feelings generally, as well as greater positivity about your body and the world around you.

Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

You can practice mindfulness by:

🌲 Getting out into nature and making an effort to appreciate the natural world.

🙏 Practicing mindfulness mediation.

🔬 Making an effort to notice the smaller things every day.

🌊 Trying out new sensations and focusing on them.

💭 Watching your thoughts and feelings, and putting a name to them.

In light of this being Mental Health Awareness Week, it is our privilege to present some helpful tips and tricks to improving your mental wellbeing.

This afternoon, we’ll take a look at what giving back to others can look like, and how it can benefit your mental and emotional wellbeing.

Research has long suggested that acts of kindness and compassion are as good for the person giving it out as they are for the person receiving. Doing so can:

🏆 Create positive feelings and a sense of reward.

📈 Give you a feeling of purpose and self-worth.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Help you to connect with other people.

Some examples include:

🤝 Saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you.

🦻 Asking friends, family or colleagues how they are, and really listening to their answer.

👩‍🦽 Spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company.

🧰 Offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project.

🏫 Volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home.

🧠🦽 New designer treatments may offer hope to those with Parkinson’s Disease!

Researchers have come up with a new method of turning non-neural cells into functioning neurons capable of all of the functions of ordinary brain cells.

The research, conducted by the University of Arizona, indicates that this model of creating new cells can allow previously damaged parts of the brain to form synapses, dispense dopamine, and restore the function of neurons destroyed by Parkinson’s disease.

This technique, known as ‘Stem cell replacement therapy’, represents an entirely new methodology for the treatment of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The technique is still in clinical trials at the moment but has been lauded as something with a wide variety of use cases in treating neurodegenerative conditions.

In light of this being Mental Health Awareness Week, it is our privilege to present some helpful tips and tricks to improving your mental wellbeing.

Today we’ll take a look what learning a new skill can do for those afflicted by mental illness.

🎺 Learning a new skill can boost your confidence, raise your self-esteem, and allow you to connect with other likeminded people.

🚪 It can give you a greater sense of purpose, and potentially open new doors in life for you.

☝️🤓 Learning a new skill can take multiple forms,

💼 You could try taking on a new responsibility at work, such as mentoring a junior staff member or improving your presentation skills.

🛠️ Working on a DIY project, such as fixing a broken bike, garden gate or something bigger.

🎓 You can sign up for a course at a local college. You could try learning a new language or a practical trade skill such as carpentry.

💻 Even things that don't require a great deal of set-up, such as blogging, journaling, or graphic design.

In light of this being Mental Health Awareness Week, it is our privilege to present some helpful tips and tricks to improving your mental wellbeing.

Today we’ll take a look what physical exercise can do improve things!

There is a plethora of medical and scienfific evidence supporting the notion that exercise can;

✅ Help you build discipline by helping you to set goals or challenges.

🏆 Raise your self-esteem by completing these challenges.

🧠 Cause chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood.

🏊 Teach you how to swim, cycle, dance, or take you on hikes to interesting places.

Don’t feel limited by the resources to hand, a professional gym is not necessary, getting out into nature can be just as effective!

👩‍👧‍👦 🤗 A study conducted in North-Eastern China has indicated that empathy training can improve mother-child relationships and life satisfaction in later life.

Mothers who receive empathy training during the adolescent development of their child show healthier cognitive and social outcomes for said children, as well as a heightened sense of empathy.

The study, originally conducted in China, saw 108 mother-and-child case studies. The mothers were put through a 20 day course in teaching empathy and compassion, with the idea to reduce conflict during a tenuous part of a child’s life and allow each side of any potential divide to ‘put themselves in the other person’s shoes.’

The participants were noted as feeling happier with their lives and relationships generally, but did not show a noticeable increase in empathy skills - though it is possible that empathy skills might not develop within the time frame of this study, leaving the topic open to further research and analysis.

In light of this being Mental Health Awareness Week, it is our privilege to present some helpful tips and tricks to improving your mental wellbeing.

Today we’ll cover the role that other people can play in keeping good mental and emotional hygiene.

Being close to those around you can have a variety of positive mental effects, inclusive but not limited to:

🥰 Helping you to build a sense of community, belonging and self-worth.

😊 Giving you an opportunity to share & amplify positive experiences with those you care about.

😋 Those around you may be able to provide emotional support and, in turn, allow you to support others.

There are multiple steps you can take to increase the bond you have with your community and those around you:

🍲 If possible, take time each day to be with your family, for example, try arranging a fixed time to eat dinner together, or to watch a film.

🌲 Arrange a fun day in or out with friends you have not seen for a while.

🖥️ Turning off the TV, computer, tablet, or games console to talk or play a game with those around you.

👵 Visiting a friend or family member who needs support or company in their time of need.

🏥 Volunteering at a local school, hospital, or community group.

📴 Making the most of technology to stay in touch with friends and family. Video-chat apps like Skype and FaceTime are useful, especially if you live far apart.

It can be easy to only ever use social media to keep in touch with those close to you, but an in person connection is also extremely important, if this is at all possible!

🏄☺️ Surfing can improve the quality of life and overall mental wellbeing of patients who have suffered an injury to the brain!

A study by the University of Swansea examined how a case study of adults living with the consequences of acquired brain injury have benefited from group-based surf therapy together.

The results seem to indicate some of what we already know about the mind-body connection; the concept that a healthy mind and a healthy body often go hand-in-hand.

The research indicates that a combination being out in nature, bonding with others, and a healthy amount of physical exercise appears to drastically increase the quality of life for patients involved in traumatic head injuries or with neurological conditions.

The study reported;

‘Many said their experience gave them a ‘valid reason for being alive.’

📝Source!

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266388

👵 😴 A new study indicates that those with Alzheimer’s who take long, mid-day naps a day are likely to see a steeper cognitive decline in their condition than those who don’t.

New research has indicated that the time of napping and it’s duration can have a fundamental effect on the prognosis and outcomes of those already diagnosed with the condition. They found that older people who napped more than an hour a day had a 40% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s – Though it must be stated that the study does not imply that napping causes Alzheimer’s dementia, or vice versa.

More research is required, but as our body of scientific research advances, so too will the quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and other similar conditions.

📝 Source!
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12636