Your Complex Brain

Nov 25 2024 53 ep. 28 mins 91

Your Complex Brain Podcast artwork

Explore the myths, mysteries, and medical breakthroughs of the most complex and powerful organ in your body – your brain. Weaving together expert interviews with heartfelt, inspiring snapshots of the patients and family members in the middle of it all, Heather Sherman dives into the latest science on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, stroke, concussion, spinal cord injury, brain cancer, chronic pain and other brain diseases and disorders. Along the way she uncovers surprising insights, sheds light on the latest research, and shares heroic, real life stories from the people on the front lines. Brought to you by Krembil Brain Institute at UHN, one of the largest and most comprehensive neurological centres in North America. Learn more about our mission at: http://www.uhn.ca/krembil

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From Fatigued to Focussed: A Cancer Survivor's Journey with Sleep Apnea

Nov 25 2024 12 mins

In this bonus episode, we delve into the life-changing journey of Carmen Chu, a cancer survivor and mother who was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Carmen shares her struggles with interrupted sleep, fatigue, and the impact on her daily life. She discusses her experience with sleep tests and the transformative benefits of using a CPAP machine.Additional ResourcesUHN’s Centre for Sleep

"I felt...a very electric shock": One Woman's Story of Extreme Facial Pain

Nov 11 2024 16 mins

In this bonus episode, we share Adriana Salazar's powerful and emotional journey. Adriana, a 40-year-old mother and wife, first experienced the pain on her honeymoon in Portugal. The pain disappeared but returned during her pregnancy, escalating to a point where she couldn't smile or eat. Despite seeing multiple specialists, she received her diagnosis only after her daughter's birt

Epilepsy and Motherhood: One Mom’s Journey

Oct 28 2024 17 mins

Today, we’re diving into the deeply personal journey of Julianne Hazelwood, a journalist and new mother, who has lived with epilepsy since her early teenage years. Julianne shares her transformational experience of motherhood, the challenges of managing epilepsy, and how The Lullaby Project—a group that brings together expectant mothers with songwriters to create a song for the

Life After Stroke: A Young Woman’s Recovery

Oct 14 2024 22 mins

In this powerful and inspiring bonus episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Shruti Kothari, a 34-year-old actress and stroke survivor. On March 7, 2020, just before the pandemic shook the world, Shruti experienced a stroke while hosting friends at her apartment. Her left side went numb, and thanks to a quick-thinking friend trained in recognizing stroke symptoms, paramedi

Beyond the Page: One Teacher's Journey with a Reading Disability

Sep 30 2024 14 mins

In this bonus episode, we dive deeper into the lived experience of Matthew Cote, a teacher and advocate for those living with learning disabilities, including reading disabilities. Matthew shares his personal journey, detailing how his reading disability impacted his early years, from struggling to decode words and feeling isolated to the turning point when he received assistive te

From Patient to Physician: One UHN Doctor’s Neurofibromatosis Story

Sep 16 2024 9 mins

Neurofibromatosis, also known as NF, is one of the most common genetic disorders affecting about 1 in 3000 people globally. However, little is known about the condition causing it to often be misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed. Neurofibromatosis causes different types of tumors to form in various parts of the body.In this bonus episode, Dr. Ryan Thomas, a family physician and Clinical

Pedalling with Purpose: Fighting Parkinson’s with Exercise

Sep 02 2024 14 mins

Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, affecting over 100,000 Canadians and 12,000 new cases diagnosed every year. In this bonus episode of Your Complex Brain, we explore the transformative power of exercise in managing Parkinson's symptoms and possibly slowing the disease’s progression.Join us as we hear from Steven Iseman, who was diagno

Unbroken: John Ruffolo’s Inspiring Path to Recovery From a Spinal Cord Injury

Aug 19 2024 16 mins

In this bonus episode of Your Complex Brain, we hear from John Ruffolo, Founder and Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity, who shares his personal journey of surviving a life-threatening cycling accident in 2020 that left him with a severe spinal cord injury. John recounts the harrowing moments following the accident, his extensive surgeries, and his remarkable recovery journe

The Heart of Dementia Care: A Social Worker's Perspective

Aug 05 2024 13 mins

In this bonus episode of Your Complex Brain, we delve into the world of dementia care with Maria Martinez, a dedicated social worker at UHN’s Memory Clinic, part of the Krembil Brain Institute. With nearly 25 years of experience, Maria shares her journey from studying anthropology and sociology to becoming a vital support for patients living with dementia and their families.Maria

The Health Risks of Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea

Jul 22 2024 41 mins

Loud, disruptive snoring could be (but isn’t always) a sign of sleep apnea, a common condition in which breathing may stop and start many times throughout the night. You may be aware that sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep and cause fatigue, but did you know that it can also impact your heart, your brain – even your sex drive?In today’s episode, we discuss the health risks of