Author: Tom Patriot

Growing up high: Neurobiological consequences of adolescent cannabis use

Tom Patriot

About one in five Canadian adolescents uses cannabis (19% of Canadians aged 15-19), and its recent legalization across the country warrants investigation into the consequence of this use on the developing brain. Adolescence is associated with the maturation of cognitive functions, such as working memory, decision-making, and impulsivity control. This is a highly vulnerable period for the development of the brain as it represents a critical period wherein a regulatory connection between higher-order regions of the cortex and emotional processing circuits deeper inside the brain are established. It is a…

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Forget Being a ‘Unicorn’: Here Are 5 Ways to Become a ‘Monster Truck’

Tom Patriot

Every company needs money to stay alive, let alone grow. This is especially true in the tech world, where even slow growth is equated with slow death. But sometimes, acquiring too much investment too soon is the very thing that causes a business to take down the open sign rather than put up the moved to larger facilities sign. Indeed, I’ve seen a slew of startups in recent years wear a badge of honor following a huge investment round. They’ve boasted about post-money valuations, but then the bad news: They’ve disappointed their investors with a down…

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Walking and strength training may decrease the risk of dying from liver disease

Tom Patriot

Physical activity, including walking and muscle-strengthening activities, were associated with significantly reduced risk of cirrhosis-related death, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2019. Chronic liver disease is increasing, partly due to the obesity epidemic, and currently there are no guidelines for the optimal type of exercise for the prevention of cirrhosis-related mortality. Researchers hope these findings will help provide specific exercise recommendations for patients at risk for cirrhosis and its complications. “The benefit of exercise is not a new concept, but the impact of exercise on mortality…

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Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin C, the Holy Grail of Skin-Care Ingredients

Tom Patriot

Vitamin C serums are legendary for a reason: They really work. Uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness — you can name just about any common complexion concern and there’s a good chance that vitamin C (and the skin-care products it’s featured in) is a recommended treatment. How does the ingredient work on the skin, though? Are the brighter, smoother results thanks to the same potent antioxidant found in the orange juice you drink when you have a cold? Given that interest about the ingredient is seemingly at an all-time…

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