Brain power, tumors, and Ted Kennedy An interview with Ashok Modha, MD, FRCSC, Northwest Surgical Specialists/Rebound Neurosurgery
What can you do to help maintain a healthy brain? What are the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor? What treatments are available, and are they safe? Also, Senator Ted Kennedy was in the news because he had brain cancer. What advances are being made to find the cure? Ashok Modha, MD, FRCSC provides some answers and practical tips.
As I age, I worry about losing my mind. What can I do to maintain my brain?What are the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor?
Senator Ted Kennedy was in the news because he had brain cancer. What advances are being made to find a cure?
How can I learn more about brain health?
About Dr. Modha
As I age, I worry about losing my mind. What can I do to maintain my brain?
It's never too early - or too late - to give your brain a boost. Here are some suggestions to help maintain your brain at any age.
| Brain power: What to do | How to do it |
| Maintain your health by controlling risk factors. | Keep your body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels within recommended ranges. |
| Eat for your health and for your brain. |
Good choices include: Foods low in fat and cholesterol:
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| Exercise your body and your mind. | Exercise stimulates blood flow, so it may encourage new brain cells. Exercise is most effective when done regularly and for about 30 minutes a day. Whatever you can do - even walking a few blocks daily- is better than doing nothing. If you exercise with a buddy, you also have an opportunity for socializing, another brain-healthy activity. |
| Avoid brain-damaging habits. | Don't smoke or use illegal drugs. |
| Try a variety of activities | Your brain benefits most with activities that differ in frequency, intensity and social setting. For example:
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| Sustain your social connections. | Studies have found that participation in sports and cultural activities and close personal relationships that provide emotional support tend to protect against dementia. Sharing a meal, shopping or just talking on the phone with family and friends are ways to stay connected. Keeping active in your workplace or volunteering for community groups are other good ways to stay connected. |
| Keep learning; satisfy your curiosity. | People who have academic accomplishments and intellectually challenging jobs may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's. And if they do develop dementia, it may occur later in life. Lack of formal education doesn't necessarily lead to mental decline. If you're curious, you'll find many opportunities to learn. You get out of your brain what you put into it. |
What are the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor?
The exact cause of brain tumors is unknown, although research indicates that some tumors result from genetic abnormalities, while others may be caused by environmental factors. You should contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms of a brain tumor:
- Headaches, which may be severe in the morning
- Seizures or convulsions
- Trouble thinking, speaking or expressing yourself
- Changes in personality, hearing or vision
- Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion and disorientation
Senator Ted Kennedy was in the news because he had brain cancer. What advances are being made to find a cure?
Fortunately, advances in technology make brain tumors easier to identify and treat than ever before. At Southwest, we have several methods to treat brain tumors, such as traditional surgery or the CyberKnife® stereotactic radiosurgery system. (To see a video of the CyberKnife in action, go to www.swmedicalcenter.org/cyberknife.)
Several clinical trials are underway for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (the type of brain cancer made famous by Senator Kennedy) and other malignant tumors. Southwest is a participant in some of these clinical trials. To learn more, go to www.swmedicalcenter.org/cancerresearch.
How can I learn more about brain health?
Northwest Surgical Specialists PC is part of Rebound Neurosurgery, located in the Physicians' Pavilion on the Southwest Washington Medical Center campus in Vancouver. For more information, click here, or call 360.256.8584.
About Dr. Modha
Ashok Modha, MD, FRCSC is a board-certified neurological (brain and nervous system) surgeon with fellowship training in neuro-oncological (cancer) surgery at Northwest Surgical Specialists PC, located at Southwest Washington Medical Center.
After completing his residency in Ottawa, Canada, Dr. Modha spent a year at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, one of our nation's preeminent training and research centers. He developed expertise in excising brain and spinal cord tumors, and his training included brain tumor resection with the assistance of brain mapping. In addition, Dr. Modha was exposed to the latest brain tumor research, while he gained intensive experience in treating patients with cancer.
Although Dr. Modha has received exceptional oncology training, he is also experienced in all neurosurgical disorders, including degenerative spinal conditions neurovascular disorders, neurotrauma and stereotactic radiosurgery.
You can locate a doctor to help you with surgery/neurosurgery (brain/nervous system) on our Find a Doctor area.
