Alzheimer's Disease and Genetics
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, explains that, "...it's clear that there are genetic predispositions to development of Alzheimer's disease late in life..." Dr. Leuchter adds that some of those who develop Alzheimer's disea...
Violence: Emotional and Physical
Dr. Astrid Heger, Director of the Violence Intervention Program at L.A. County-USC Medical Center, talks about the continuum of violence, from emotional to physical to sexual. Dr Heger notes that, in many cases, emotional violence as expressed throu...
Needle Exchange Programs (Part One) and (Part Two)
Dr. Alexandra Levine, Chief of the Division of Hematology at the USC School of Medicine, talks about needle exchange programs and notes that studies have proven they decrease the transmission of HIV.
Purposes of Genetic Testing
Dr. Ed McCabe, Chief of the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, explains that genetic testing is done to facilitate the diagnosis of genetic diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Such testing can be invaluable in encouraging individuals ...
Genetic Testing Options
Dr. Ed McCabe, Chief of the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, talks about the process he follows when a couple comes to him without a known history of disease or genetic red flags. Dr. McCabe explains that he begins with a very detailed family his...
Violence Prevention
Dr. Astrid Heger, Director of the Violence Intervention Program at L.A. County-USC Medical Center, refers to two medical models as she discusses strategies for dealing with the epidemic of violence in the United States. The first of these is the dis...
Understanding Depression
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, explains that depression is an illness not a weakness, and that real, physical changes in brain neurochemistry or in hormones often, "...prevent the depressed patient from being themselves."
Treating Metabolic Diseases
Dr. Ed McCabe, Chief of the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, talks about progress that's been made in treating those afflicted with Sickle Cell disease, PKU (phenylketonuria) and other metabolic disorders.
Violence and Genetics
Dean Hamer, Director of the Gene Structure and Regulation Unit at the National Cancer Institute, talks about a family in Holland that included multiple individuals who were violent criminals. This behavior prompted scientists to explore possible gen...
Violence as a Health Risk
Dr. Astrid Heger, Director of the Violence Intervention Program at L.A. County-USC Medical Center, talks about the scale of violence in the United States. Dr. Heger reports that violence is the leading single cause of trauma to women between the age...