Don’t lower the voting age, says this neurosurgeon
On several occasions, most recently during a press conference in March 2019, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has advocated changing the voting age to 16. Pelosi told reporters that lowering the...
View ArticleHow a neurosurgeon uses a No Room for Error mentality when making life decisions
As a doctor that specifically deals with brain and spine surgeries, I have adopted a No Room for Error mentality in the operating room. I believe this same mentality can be helpful in making the best...
View ArticleWhat does cable news do to your brain? A neurosurgeon explains.
The availability of up to the minute information, presented 24/7/365, could assist a democratic society in making the best choices in determining its future. That was the promise of cable news....
View ArticleA neurosurgeon asks: Is your child’s backpack hurting her spine?
Running late for school in the morning. Again. You yell upstairs to your daughter, “Hurry up.” While she’s slipping on her sneakers and hustling out the door, you grab her backpack from the chair in...
View ArticleWhat happens to your child’s brain when you nag
Part of your job as a parent is to teach your children, and there’s no way for a child to learn anything without making a few mistakes. Actually, a lot of mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes can be...
View ArticleA neurosurgeon explains why visualization works
Brain science explains why visualization improves performance in the real world, helps make better decisions, and minimizes errors. Before performing surgery, let’s say for a herniated disc, I stand in...
View ArticleDoes pain change your brain?
I consult on many patients because they are suffering from pain. In fact, their pain is so severe that they are considering spinal surgery. More than 100,000 Americans decide to undergo surgery, and...
View ArticlePut down the knife: A neurosurgeon explains the importance of a work-life...
In his novel Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor observed that “death alone is certain and the time of death is uncertain.” This knowledge should guide us in one of our most important...
View ArticleThink about your brain and spine before you start that new fad diet
Before you jump on the diet bandwagon with your brother-in-law (who’s crowing about shedding all that weight with so little effort), think about the potential downside. The problem with an...
View ArticleA neurosurgeon’s proposal to reduce burnout in medicine and beyond
In a previous article, I described the brain-damaging effects of allowing work-life balance to fall into disequilibrium. For example, scientists from the Karolinska Institute, in Sweden, reported that...
View ArticleThe baby formula shortage puts your baby’s brain at risk
The baby formula shortage has morphed into a full-blown ongoing crisis. Many stores report that more than half of baby formula products are out of stock. Babies who are six months old or younger should...
View Article2 questions you should ask when choosing a surgeon
If you or a loved one needs surgery, you’re very likely terrified. You also may be shopping around to find a surgeon. Of course, you’ll want the best. (I’ve never heard someone say, “I’d like the most...
View ArticleThe ramparts of the neurosurgeon’s mind were unassailable
An excerpt from Azazel’s Public House. Pete tried to invade Tommy’s brain and force an oops moment. But the ramparts of the neurosurgeon’s mind were unassailable. Clancy, unaware he was battling on two...
View ArticleWhy do smart doctors sink money into silly investments?
People who’ve done what it takes to earn a medical degree are typically pretty special. Most doctors spend reasonably, invest wisely and incubate a healthy nest egg: a recipe for a comfortable...
View ArticleI’m a neurosurgeon. Social media may change your kid’s brain.
A 2023 study of middle school-aged children laid out some alarming findings. Scientists recruited more than one hundred and fifty children, all aged twelve, from rural North Carolina public schools....
View ArticleThe brain science behind acupuncture
There are those who believe acupuncture to be a bunch of mumbo jumbo. I’m convinced it works, though. Acupuncture was first performed thousands of years ago, and it’s still being done today. That alone...
View ArticleProtect your brain with a good night’s sleep
No one knows exactly why we need to sleep, but we certainly do. Although the brain can’t thrive on sleep alone, good sleep is an essential ingredient necessary to keep your brain functioning at its...
View ArticleKetones may be the key to unlocking a healthier brain
You’ve undoubtedly heard the buzzwords: ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting. I don’t have much of an opinion about what that all does for your waistline, but I venture to say that ketones may benefit...
View ArticleHeart-stopping brain surgery: a surgeon’s harrowing dilemma
An excerpt from of Paint and Pancakes. The epicenter of Jane’s cancer occupied some very expensive real estate between Broca’s area and the motor strip. Her ability to speak and form coherent words...
View ArticleCan you predict Alzheimer’s? New research on early detection.
You can’t treat something until you know it’s there. Currently, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but earlier diagnosis may lead to better understanding of how the disease inexorably...
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