Brazilian Congress on Neurology and Psychiatry Lands in Canada

In its tenth edition, ‘Brain’ goes international to discuss the latest trends in mental health

Earlier this month, Brain 2014 celebrated not only the congress’ 10^th year but also its first international edition. The event gathered more than a thousand experts on neurology and psychiatry from all over the world in Montreal, Canada. State-of-art research was presented, including studies that give new perspectives about diagnosis and treatments of pathologies in both areas.

The congress was started in 2004 was created by two Brazilian researchers, psychiatrist Pedro Lima and neurologist André Palmini. Since its inaugural edition in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the event has grown due to its capacity to join international physicians and discuss important topics in a light and clear way. This year the event was organized by CCM Eventos, and Tino Comunicações was proud to serve as the PR agency behind it.

Highlighting the event were topics such as early childhood trauma, Alzheimer’s, depression and bipolar disorder. In a talk with André Palmini, he emphasized that some of the studies presented shed new light on the connection between early childhood traumas and the appearance of pathologies in adulthood. On psychiatry, Pedro Lima underlined the necessity of accuracy in diagnosing depression and bipolar disorder. Finally, neurologist Paulo Caramelli put Alzheimer’s on the table. Here’s more about what the physicians debated during Brain 2014:

Emotions and early childhood trauma

How does the brain regulate emotions? Do emotions determine the way a person makes decisions in life? Do the emotions of other animals help psychiatry today? Answers to these questions are not immediate. Therefore, many scholars point at the need to unravel brain’s management of regions connected to emotions. “This is a new perspective for neuroscience. There is much more to be studied, but it is now known that the control of emotions changes human behavior,” explained André Palmini. Unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, depression, aggressive behavior and other factors are observed in patients suffering early childhood stress. “It is essential to always evaluate early life stress,” said Palmini.

Alzheimer’s: Early treatment and prevention

Healthy habits and an active mind are the best tools against Alzheimer’s. The neurologist Paulo Caramelli reveals that few drug improvements have been seen in recent years for the disease’s treatment. “Currently, we see a shift in focus in research on Alzheimer’s, we talk a lot more about prevention, keeping the mind active and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle”. Caramelli explained that an active mind is essential, especially among people of older age.

Depression and Bipolar disorder

The fine line between diagnosis of depression and bipolar disorder raises a discussion about the treatment of these pathologies. “Failing to diagnose it correctly, may lead to a treatment that is not the most appropriated. A bipolar who takes antidepressants can see its clinical conditions get worse”, says Pedro Lima. Since depression is an inflammatory disease, the physicians stress the need to treat other comorbidities, such as cardiovascular problems, asthma and arthritis.

Today’s post comes to us from Mayra Lopes of GLOBALHealthPR Brazil partner, Tino Comunicação.