Humans

Randy and Karen O'Burke together at their son's home in Hendersonville, Tenn., last week. "Apparently, I'm pretty much of a miracle," Randy says.

How To Prevent Brain-Sapping Delirium In The ICU

9:21am October 11, 2018

by Richard Harris

People who suffer from prolonged delirium in the hospital are likely to develop long-term mental problems like dementia. Doctors have come up with techniques they say can reduce delirium in the ICU.

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Richard Langford, at home in East Nashville, Tenn., still has significant trouble with mental focus and memory issues 10 years after a sudden and serious infection landed him in the hospital ICU for several weeks.

When ICU Delirium Leads To Symptoms Of Dementia After Discharge

5:50pm October 10, 2018

by Richard Harris

Up to half of all patients who survive emergency medical treatment in the intensive care unit have mental problems when they return home. Doctors studying the problem say it starts with delirium.

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Suboxone, a medicine to treat opioid addiction, helps people struggling with substance abuse by blocking their cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction Treatment Gap Is Driving A Black Market For Suboxone

4:22pm October 10, 2018

by Jake Harper

This medicine to treat opioid addiction is hard to come by — only a fraction of doctors can prescribe it. So some people trying to quit a heroin habit are turning to the black market for help.

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On re-entering society, formerly incarcerated people struggle to get health care and treatment for HIV.

After Prison, Many People Living With HIV Go Without Treatment

8:22pm October 09, 2018

by Heather Boerner

When HIV-positive people leave prison, they often lose access to medical care and the drugs that suppress the virus. It's a missed opportunity in the fight against HIV, public health advocates say.

Some apps, like CBT-I Coach, use proven scientific methods to help people manage their underlying sleep challenges.

Some Apps May Help Curb Insomnia, Others Just Put You To Sleep

5:13am October 08, 2018

by Rhitu Chatterjee

People struggling with insomnia often turn to apps to help them fall asleep. But scientists say only some apps use proven methods that can help address the underlying causes of sleeplessness.

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Science

Anil Seth: How Does Your Brain Construct Your Conscious Reality?

10:48am October 05, 2018

by NPR/TED Staff

When we look around, it feels like we're seeing an objective reality. But neuroscientist Anil Seth says everything we perceive, from objects to emotions, is an act of informed guesswork by the brain.

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Portrait of a Man with Full Beard sitting in an Armchair holding a Glass of Wine

Science

Too Little, Too Much: How Poverty and Wealth Affect Our Minds

5:00pm October 04, 2018

We all know the downsides of being poor. But what about the downsides of being rich? This week, we explore the psychology of scarcity...and excess.

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Psychologists find that cognitive processing therapy — a type of counseling that helps people learn to challenge and modify their beliefs related to a trauma — can be useful in healing the mental health problems some experience after a sexual assault.

Building Strength And Resilience After A Sexual Assault: What Works

2:06pm October 04, 2018

by April Fulton

Sexual assault is still a highly stigmatized form of trauma, and that can complicate recovery for years, psychologists find. PTSD, depression and anxiety aren't unusual, but treatment can help.

Mesquite flour stirred into butter has a unique sweet flavor, and is especially good on homemade bread.

Arts

Texas Baker Rekindles Interest In The Mysterious Mesquite Bean

1:55pm October 04, 2018

by Karen Hudes

When an Austin neuroscientist-turned-baker dove deeply into a box of Peruvian mesquite flour on a lark, he found a forgotten, flavorful and nutritious bean that was once vital to Native Americans.

Can a sexual assault increase your risk of high blood pressure, even years later? Recent research suggests yes.

Sexual Assault And Harassment May Have Lasting Health Repercussions For Women

3:01pm October 03, 2018

by Mara Gordon

In a small study of middle-aged women, a history of sexual assault and workplace harassment was linked to health problems like hypertension, sleeplessness and depression.