Mary Bolster

1 month ago | healthcentral.com | Mary Bolster

When Ann Marie Johnson, 54, from Syracuse, NY, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2002, the first thing she did was educate herself about the autoimmune condition, a disease of the central nervous system that causes mobility, cognition, and vision problems. Johnson knew of only one person who had it—Montel Wiliams—and he was famous. As she researched the condition, she couldn’t find anyone who looked like her: young, female, and African American.

1 month ago | healthcentral.com | Mary Bolster

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is no picnic. Just ask any of the 1 million Americans who are living with this autoimmune disorder, which can cause nerve pain, motor problems, cognitive decline, urinary and bowel issues, and vision loss, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Depression and grief are common with this condition, too, says Rosalind Kalb, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and certified health coach based in West Bath, ME.

2 months ago | brainandlife.org | Mary Bolster

You had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) when you were 18. What happened? I had finished my first semester at San Diego State University and was riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with some friends on a pier. We were just goofing around, and none of us was wearing a helmet. Like many 18-year-olds, we thought we were immortal. That changed when my ATV flipped and my head slammed into the ground. How serious was your injury? I was rushed to the nearest hospital, where I lay in a coma for a week.

Dec 13, 2024 | brainandlife.org | Mary Bolster

You were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease [PD] just after you finished your residency in family medicine. You were 28 and expecting your first child. That must have been a shock. I first noticed a tremor in my right pinkie finger, which I ignored until it became concerning. That day I went to see the neurologist in my clinic, who did a physical examination and said he thought I had Parkinson's. I sought a second opinion from a neurologist in downtown Toronto, who confirmed the diagnosis.

Oct 24, 2024 | brainandlife.org | Mary Bolster

Andrew R. Spector, MD, FAAN, is so passionate about helping people with restless legs syndrome (RLS) that he wrote an entire book about it. Called Navigating Life with Restless Legs Syndrome, the work is the latest offering from the American Academy of Neurology’s Brain & Life book series.