Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI)

In 2011, Demi Lovato disclosed her struggles with bipolar disorder. Lovato revealed feeling "relieved" upon learning her diagnosis, a sentiment experts suggest could reshape societal perceptions of mental health. David Merrill, MD, PhD, Director of the Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, reminds us that “no one chooses to suffer from bipolar disorder — we now know that mental health disorders are medical illnesses that include genetic predispositions, environmental life stressors, and need comprehensive treatments.” Keep reading: https://lnkd.in/gkRUcfsk #BipolarAwareness #MentalHealthJourney #DemiLovato #BrainHealth #MentalWellness #PacificNeuroscienceInstitute #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealthMatters #Treatment

“Our perceptions of aging and how we talk about it can directly impact our health and others’ health,” says Scott Kaiser, MD, Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Join Dr. Kaiser as he discusses the “polite” respectful language and attitudes towards aging, combatting ageism and stereotypes, and promoting inclusive and respectful communication for aging experiences. 💙 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gt2YQaxt #HealthyAging #GeriatricHealth #CognitiveHealth #AgeWell #Ageism #PositiveAging

🌟 Join the PNI Brain Tumor Fighters at the BT5K! 🌟 We’re teaming up with the American Brain Tumor Association to support patients and families and advance brain tumor research. 💪🧠 📅 Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024 🕗 Time: 8:00 am 📍 Location: Tongva Park, Santa Monica, CA Whether you can walk with us or support from afar, your involvement makes a huge difference. 👟 Join Our Team: Walk with us and be part of the fight against brain tumors. 💵 Donate: Can’t make it? Your donation is quick, easy, and helps drive research and support. Let’s come together to support those impacted by brain tumors. Sign up or donate today and be a part of something meaningful! 🔗 Link to sign up: https://lnkd.in/gmf8URNC⁠ #BT5K #BrainTumorAwareness #PNIBrainTumorFighters #JoinUs #DonateNow

It started with haunting whispers that invaded her thoughts. Auditory hallucinations plagued her waking hours as a mysterious illness took over 22-year-old Jill's mind. She recalls, "I heard voices, broke down, and went to my mother...then darkness." Tragically, Jill fell into a coma-like state. A year passed before she regained consciousness. Puzzled by the nature of Jill’s condition, medical experts admitted her to a psychiatric facility. Eventually, she began experiencing seizures and was admitted to a hospital. Faced with this nightmarish scenario, Jill’s father sought to find the best possible care for his daughter. This led him to Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, board-certified neurologist and Co-founder of Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI). When Jill’s father contacted him, Dr. Kesari promptly agreed to help. After conducting a multitude of tests, Dr. Kesari discovered an antibody in Jill’s blood and spinal fluid attacking her brain and causing rampant inflammation. Dr. Kesari revealed that “this typically occurs with a variety of cancers as well as with some benign tumors.” The search was on to locate Jill's tumor. After conducting further imaging, Dr. Kesari and his team found a tumor in one of Jill’s ovaries. The tumor incited an adverse autoimmune response, leading to inflammation in her brain. To save Jill's life, the medical team removed the affected ovary. Alarmingly, Jill remained unconscious after surgery. Repeat testing indicated the presence of antibodies still attacking her brain. Dr. Kesari surmised that there must still be a tumor in the remaining ovary, despite no evidence on imaging. The medical team promptly performed a second operation. Dr. Kesari’s prediction was correct. And the results were nothing short of miraculous. Immediately after surgery, there was a clear change in Jill’s neurological condition. Day by day, she improved, transitioning from a coma-like state to a gradual return to consciousness. In a matter of weeks, Jill made a stunning recovery. Watch Jill's journey here: https://shorturl.at/gkrne

Elevating Brain Cancer Care: Dr. Akanksha Sharma's Compassionate Approach 🧠💛⁠ ⁠ Join us on a remarkable journey as we explore the compassionate work of Dr. Akanksha Sharma, a distinguished neuro-oncologist and palliative medicine specialist at the Pacific Brain Tumor Center in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Sharma's commitment to enhancing the lives of brain cancer patients, including those battling glioblastoma, and their dedicated caregivers is truly inspiring. In 2020, she unveiled the Supportive Care Clinic, providing a lifeline for managing symptoms, improving quality of life, lightening caregiver burdens, and offering much-needed support during challenging times.⁠ ⁠ Check out the full episode on your favorite podcast platform. 🎧 ⁠ #BrainCancerCare #PalliativeCare #SupportiveCareClinic #NeuroOncology #AkankshaSharmaMD #CompassionateCare #QualityOfLife #CancerSupport #SantaMonicaCA

When Janna was 20, her college life took an unexpected turn with sudden, severe hearing loss in one ear. After an MRI, she was diagnosed with a left vestibular schwannoma, commonly known as an acoustic neuroma. Though rare, these benign brain tumors are highly treatable with care from experienced neurosurgeons. Learn about Janna’s courageous treatment journey at PNI, where she received treatment from Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, MD, Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, and Dr. Courtney Voelker, MD PhD. For more information on acoustic neuroma treatment, call us at 310-582-7450. #AcousticNeuroma #Neurosurgery #PNI

Dr. Porter is the Director of Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at the Pacific Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI). Learn how she and the multispecialty team at the Brain Health Center provide compassionate, expert care and comprehensive support for patients and their loved ones.   For more information, contact the clinic at 310-582-7641. #Alzheimers #Dementia #PNI #BrainHealth

If you missed our live webinar on Navigating Brain Health, you can still watch the full session online! 🎥 ✨⁠ ⁠ Check out this recorded webinar from Providence, featuring our team at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI): Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, MD, along with Drs. David Merrill and Walavan Sivakumar.⁠ ⁠ In this free community lecture, you'll learn about holistic and personalized treatments for neurological disorders, advanced brain tumor care, and practical strategies to improve your quality of life.⁠ ⁠ Watch the full video here on YouTube! ⁠ ⁠ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gZ-zwwJ4⁠ ⁠ #BrainHealth #Neuroscience #BrainTumorAwareness #HolisticHealth

Meet Ryan Glatt, MS, CPT, NBC-HWC, Certified Personal Trainer and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach with a focus on brain health. With over a decade of experience, Ryan personalizes exercise and lifestyle strategies for individuals with brain and cognitive health goals. As the Director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Ryan combines brain and body training through "serious exergaming," using innovative technologies to enhance cognitive and physical skills. His passion for “games for good” started after rehabilitating from a concussion with Dance Dance Revolution, and now he’s leading the way in brain health through gamified rehabilitation and dual-task training. #BrainHealth #FitBrain #Exergaming #PNIMinute

The future of spine surgery is here! In Becker's Spine Review, top surgeons, including PNI's Dr. Jian Guan, discuss what the new "gold standard" in spine care could look like. Dr. Guan shares how advancements in personalized treatments, robotics, and material science are moving us into highly customized solutions—focusing instead on customized approaches that boost recovery and reduce downtime. Discover more about Spine’s New Gold Standard and the innovations shaping the future of care. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gSV2XMae #Spine #PNI