Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, often causing problems in social interaction and communication.

The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity. Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were previously considered separate — autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and unspecified forms of pervasive developmental disorder.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic nervous system disease which effects the whole body. Some noticeable signs of PD are tremor, slowed movement, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, speech and writing challenges, fatigue and pain.

Some not so noticeable complications include thinking difficulties, depression, eating - chewing - swallowing problems, sleep problems and disorders, blood pressure changes, sexual dysfunction, and bladder issues.

Learn more about Parkinson's Disease and the organizations devoted to making the lives of those suffering from Parkinson's a little easier. Donations to support research are always welcome during Parkinson's Awareness Month and all year round. Parkinson's Disease

Occupational Therapy is a vital profession that helps people across the life span to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations).

Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent- or live better with- injury, illness, or disability.

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate in school and social situations, helping people recovering from an injury by relearning skills, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive challenges.

West Nile virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected female mosquito. The mosquitoes get the virus when they bite an infected bird. Crows and jays are the most common birds linked to the virus, but at least 110 other bird species can carry the causative agent which causes the virus. West Nile virus is not spread between humans.

Most people infected with West Nile virus have only mild, flu-like symptoms that last a few days. But, older people and those with weak immune systems are more likely to get a serious illness from the infection.

About 20% of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever, common symptoms include fever, headaches, skin rash on trunk of body, and swollen lymph glands.

If a person gets the more severe form of the disease such as West Nile encephalitis or Wet Nile meningitis, treatment may necessitate intensive supportive therapy including hospitalization, intravenous (IV) fluids, breathing support (ventilator), and prevention measures against sepsis, pneumonia, and other urinary tract infections.

Everyone is encouraged to consult with their healthcare provider, or regional health department or ministry, if you are exposed to mosquito and their bites.

Cushing’s disease occurs when a tumor in the brain’s pituitary gland releases large amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone, resulting in excessive cortisol production. The disorder causes a range of physical, mental, and hormonal problems.

Harvy Cushing graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1895 and became the leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial tumors. Dr. Cushing's research on the pituitary body (1912) gained him an international reputation, and he was the first to identify a type of pituitary malfunction which causes obesity of the face and trunk portions of the body, to be known later as Cushing’s disease, or Cushing’s syndrome.

Harvy William Cushing studied for four years at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore and was a surgeon at Johns Hopkins from 1902 to 1912 and then was appointed surgeon-in-chief at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston and became a professor of surgery at the Harvard Medical School.

In 1933 he joined the faculty of Yale University. Cushing developed many of the operating procedures and techniques that are still basic to the surgery of the brain, and his work greatly reduced the high mortality rates that had formerly been associated with brain surgery.

Each brick below leads to Web sites which have resources for seniors and those who are victims of elder abuse. The first brick, eldercare locator, provides, among other things, a search engine to locate services in your area. The second brick, OVC, is a governmental (US) resource for those who are victims of financial fraud. And the third brick leads to an abundance of resources for caregivers and victims. Everyone should visit all three sites to gain an awareness of services that are available to seniors, seniors of abuse, caregivers, and families.