Compassionate Minds

I was delighted to see the handsome Shemar Moore and his beautiful mother on the July/August cover. Having been an ardent fan of his for years, I am now a fan of his mother, Marilyn Wilson-Moore, as well. May God grant her nothing but good days. I'm rooting for her!

I began reading Neurology Now to understand my friend's condition, multiple sclerosis (MS). She was diagnosed at 45 and died this past May at 76, but not from MS. Her death and your article have inspired me to call the local chapter of the National MS Society to see if I can't do some volunteer work in honor of my friend, Elsie Schmitz, and the Moores.

Best of luck to the Criminal Minds team in their bike tour for 2008. Here's hoping they raise twice what they raised last year for the National MS Society. Thank you for publishing such a touching, informative story. - Betty B. Suggs, St. Louis, MO

Amnesia 911

As a parent of a daughter with multiple sclerosis (benign), I have been so engaged with articles in your magazine. However, the piece on Denise Reagor and her ensuing amnesia ("Am I Nothing But What I Remember?", July/August 2008) disturbed me, as there was no mention of what people should do in response to a blow to the head. Denise's well-meaning friends should have been aware that a 911 call or a trip to the nearest hospital was in order, regardless of what the injured asked of them.

I realize this article was about amnesia and its effect upon lifestyle. However, I think the author missed an opportunity to educate and reinforce what many of us have come to learn is the correct preventive action following such an injury. - Lalla Goodwillie, Horseshoe Bay, TX

THE EDITOR RESPONDS: Thank you for this very valuable insight! Early intervention in many acute neurological diseases can make a big difference in outcome.

Neurobics

Keep neurobics in your magazine. While I seldom get many of the correct answers, it makes me think "outside of the box." As an 80-year-old, I need and enjoy mental challenges. Any other brain teasers would be appreciated also. - Dan Kirk, Santa Maria. CA

Hydrocephalus

I have been reading your publication for more than a year and have never seen any mention of normal pressure hydrocephalus. This condition afflicts thousands of people and is often misdiagnosed and treated as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. The closest you came to discussing this disease was your July/August 2008 article about intracranial hypertension, which is also caused by cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. The treatment is almost identical to that of hydrocephalus. It is estimated that one-third of nursing home patients are suffering from normal pressure hydrocephalus and are being misdiagnosed. Is there a reason why this condition is never mentioned in your publication? - T.W. Weston

THE EDITOR RESPONDS: We took your suggestion and included an article on adult normal pressure hydrocephalus in this issue. See "Hidden Pressure." Thank you for proposing the idea.