An emerging approach to stroke recovery involves an outpatient neurosurgical procedure that implants a device capable of stimulating a nerve found to be central to the brain's ability to learn. Dr. Christopher Conner in UConn Health's Brain and Spine Institute is the first neurosurgeon in Connecticut to implant this device, which can make the brain more receptive to intensive occupational therapy. Dr. Conner explains vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and describes its early success.

(November 2024, Dr. Christopher Conner, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco)

Dr. Christopher Conner https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Conner-Christopher

Connecticut's 1st VNS device implant (UConn Today, May 2024) https://today.uconn.edu/2024/05/first-in-connecticut-ischemic-stroke-survivors-have-renewed-hope-with-the-vagus-nurve-stimulation-device-now-available-at-uconn-health/

Treating movement disorders with deep brain stimulation (UConn Today, May 2024) https://today.uconn.edu/2024/05/deep-brain-stimulation-changing-the-quality-of-life-for-those-with-parkinsons-disease/

UConn Health Brain and Spine Institute https://health.uconn.edu/brain-and-spine-institute/

UConn Health Stroke Center https://health.uconn.edu/stroke-center/

UConn Health Neurology Deep Brain Stimulation Program https://health.uconn.edu/neurology/clinical-services/movement-disorders/parkinsons-disease/

UConn Health Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center https://health.uconn.edu/parkinsons/

It takes expertise across many specialties to earn a designation as a Center of Excellence from the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. UConn Health has earned that designation. From UConn Health's Huntington’s Disease Program, Dr. Shakaib Khan, medical director, and nurse practitioner Robin Zingales-Browne describe what goes into providing care and support for those with Huntington’s Disease and their families. Plus, learn about Huntington’s Disease Education Day, taking place at UConn Health Oct. 26.

(Robin Zingales-Browne, Dr. Shakaib Khan, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, October 2024).

2024 Huntington’s Disease Education Day, Oct. 26, 2024 https://connecticut.hdsa.org/events/2024-huntington-s-disease-education-day-farmington-ct

Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence in Connecticut Designated at UConn Health https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/huntingtons-disease-center-of-excellence-in-connecticut-designated-at-uconn-health/

Enroll-HD Study https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/research/research-studies/#fl-accordion-606dfb3f99d42-tab-4

Huntington’s Disease Program at UConn Health https://health.uconn.edu/psychiatry/areas-of-care/adult/huntingtons-disease-program/

Dr. Shakaib Khan http://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Khan-Shakaib

Robin Zingales-Browne http://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Browne-Robin

Whether it's cold or flu, COVID or RSV, get ready for what seems like a growing number of respiratory illnesses this fall and winter. How do we recognize them, how do we react to symptoms, how do we treat them, and how can we reduce their likelihood in the first place? We ask UConn Health infectious diseases experts Nancy Dupont and Dr. David Banach that and more.

(September 2024, Nancy Dupont, Dr. David Banach, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco)

UConn Health Infectious Diseases Division https://health.uconn.edu/infectious-diseases/

Proper hand-washing demonstration by Nancy Dupont, UConn Health nursing director of epidemiology and infection control https://youtu.be/UaPSP8rhmCw

Dr. David Banach, UConn Health hospital epidemiologist https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Banach-David

CDC information for the 2024-2025 flu season https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2024-2025.htm

CDC information for COVID-19 https://www.cdc.gov/covid

CDC information for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/

A fractured larynx? That's what's done in Steven Tyler and forced Aerosmith to retire from touring. This month we talk to two experts from UConn Health's Voice and Speech Clinic to explain this and other voice problems they see, and to offer some tips on how to treat and prevent them: Dr. Denis Lafreniere, chief of the UConn Health Division of Otolaryngology, and speech and language pathologist Ann Clifford.

(August 2024, Ann Clifford, Dr. Denis Lafreniere, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco)

UConn Health Voice and Speech Clinic https://health.uconn.edu/otolaryngology/areas-of-care/voice-and-speech-clinic/ 860-679-2804 Request an Appointment Online

UConn Health Division of Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat) https://health.uconn.edu/otolaryngology/

Dr. Denis Lafreniere https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Lafreniere-Denis

Ann Clifford https://facultydirectory.uchc.edu/profile?profileId=Clifford-Ann

Dr. Justin D'Addario, vascular and endovascular surgeon at UConn Health, explains the potential health hazards of poor blood flow, and how to recognize problems like peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis, and aneurysms, and address them before they require drastic measures.

(June 2024, Dr. Justin D'Addario, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco)

Dr. Justin D'Addario https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/D'Addario-Justin

UConn Health Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery https://health.uconn.edu/vascular-surgery/

“UConn’s Vascular Surgeons Take DETOUR to Save Woman’s Toes, Foot, and Leg from Peripheral Arterial Disease” (UConn Today) https://today.uconn.edu/?p=208883

Whether it's the acute care during the medical emergency or the recovery and rehabilitation that follows, UConn Health continues to earn recognition for its stroke care. Dr. Priya Narwal, interim medical director of UConn Health's Stroke Center, Brooke Medel, stroke nurse navigator, and nurse Kristen Bryant, interim stroke coordinator, share their expertise, and remind us that BEFAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time) is still the mantra when it comes to recognizing and reacting to stroke.

(Dr. Priya Narwal, Brooke Medel, Kristen Bryant, Chris DeFrancesco, May 2024)

UConn Health Stroke Center https://health.uconn.edu/stroke-center/

Dr. Priya Narwal https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Narwal-Priya

Miracle Outcome for Patient’s Life-Threatening Stroke https://today.uconn.edu/?p=214021

First in Connecticut: Ischemic Stroke Survivors Have Renewed Hope With the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Device Now Available at UConn Health https://today.uconn.edu/?p=214132

Un gran reto en la atención de la esclerosis múltiple es reconocerla lo suficientemente pronto como para iniciar la intervención y cambiar la trayectoria de la enfermedad. Los determinantes sociales de la salud, incluyendo las barreras culturales, pueden hacer que esto sea especialmente difícil. El Dr. Jaime Imitola, jefe de la División de Esclerosis Múltiple y Neuroinmunología Traslacional de UConn Health, dirigió un grupo que ideó un nuevo recurso bilingüe para ayudar a los pacientes, estudiantes de medicina y proveedores a reconocer los signos de la enfermedad y evitar los retrasos en la atención medica.

(Dr. Jaime Imitola, Carolyn Pennington, Chris DeFrancesco, marzo de 2024)

Enlaces de referencia:

http://www.imitolab.org/visiblms.html

http://www.imitolab.org/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585241228739

https://health.uconn.edu/multiple-sclerosis/

https://today.uconn.edu/2024/03/making-early-signs-of-multiple-sclerosis-visibl/

You don't have to be an elite athlete to take advantage of a new care model that offers access to full range of expertise: the Women's Center for Motion and Performance at UConn Health is for women of all ages, ability levels, and medical needs. Dr. Katherine Coyner, director, and Dr. Allison Schafer, medical director, explain how patients will benefit from this collective of specialties designed to optimize the coordination of care and get or keep women active and healthy.

(April 2024, Dr. Katherine Coyner, Dr. Allison Schafer, Chris DeFrancesco)

Women's Center for Motion and Performance at UConn Health (starting 4/23/24) https://health.uconn.edu/womens-center-for-motion-and-performance/

Women's Center for Motion and Performance nurse navigator: https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/

Dr. Allison Schafer https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Schafer-Allison

Dr. Katherine Coyner https://health.uconn.edu/find-a-provider/physician/Coyner-Katherine

Dr. Coyner's Inspiring Women in Engineering and Medicine (IWEM) program https://www.drcoyner.com/iwem.html

UConn Health Half Marathon, June 1, 2024 https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/uconn-health-half-marathon-10k-5k/

UConn Institute for Sports Medicine https://sports.institute.uconn.edu/

UConn Health Simsbury https://health.uconn.edu/plan-your-visit/locations-and-directions/simsbury

UConn Health Southington https://health.uconn.edu/plan-your-visit/locations-and-directions/southington