Learnmore about the passive diffusion of alcohol through the blood brain barrier. The medulla is the section of the brain that regulates the body . The neurotoxic effects of alcohol lead to thiamine deficiency and global cell death within, particularly vulnerable areas within the brain. Ethanol affects prolactin levels not only through its impact on D2R but also through changes in the production and secretion of growth factors in the pituitary that help control lactotropic cell proliferation. Effects on pubertal hormones by ethanol abuse in adolescents. Several studies clearly have demonstrated that ethanol exposure during the developmental period induced neurotoxicity and permanent impairments in the HPA axis that were associated with immune dysfunction (Hellemans et al. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 34(6):791807, 2010. Sillaber, I.; Rammes, G.; Zimmermann, S.; et al. 1998) by alcohol exposure. In: Kusnecov, A., and Anisman, H., Eds. 2012). When the investigators measured the total integrated response values for secreted insulin and for C-peptide1 following oral or intravenous glucose administration in these two groups, both values were significantly lower in the chronic drinkers compared with the control group. Cause both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes in alcoholics. It becomes affected by the intoxication and causes a stoppage of short-term memory, becoming long-term memory., This can cause injuries, poor decision-making, and other detrimental events that can affect the rest of your life.. Alcohol reaches your brain in only five minutes, and starts to affect you within 10 minutes. Hormones and Behavior 61(3):331339, 2012. Iodine is essential to T4 and T3 production, with T4 containing four, and T3 containing three, iodine atoms. However, there are two main exceptions when long-term damage can be severe and life-altering. 2011), has a protective and regenerative effect on -cells, and decreases cell apoptosis in cultured islet cells (Dong et al. PMID: 12410778, Hoffman, P.L. 1991; Valimaki et al. ; et al. The levels of free T4 and T3, however, were lower in people with AUD during withdrawal and early abstinence compared with nonalcoholic healthy control subjects (Hegedus et al. It happens to people who are long-term alcohol-dependent because alcohol blocks the absorption of thiamine.. Chronic ethanol feeding inhibits plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1. Alcohol can also affect sperm structure, menstruation, ovulation and increase the risk of miscarriage and fetal development. 1989; Blalock and Costa 1989). ; Van Leeuwen, F.W. PMID: 10982546, Patto, R.J.; Russo, E.K. For example, alcohol exposure reduces circulating GH and IGF-1 levels. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 31(9):15811588, 2007. ; et al. IGF-1 can control its own secretion through negative feedback at the level of the hypothalamus and pituitary by reducing GH synthesis and release. If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, it is vital to be aware of these possibilities to make an informed decision moving forward. For example, acute ethanol administration increased serum prolactin levels in male (Seilicovich et al. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 8(4):243258, 1996. Endocrine Reviews 17(1):64102, 1996. Impair the hormonal response to hypoglycemia with heavy consumption. Alteration in G proteins and prolactin levels in pituitary after ethanol and estrogen treatment. This can cause injuries, poor decision-making, and other detrimental events that can affect the rest of your life. The more alcohol you consume, the more at risk you are for chronic anxiety, depression, and AUD, as this cycle is hard to break and leaves you craving the boost of neurons, like dopamine, once again. After puberty, the levels again decrease slowly to reach the adult level. It may be why that glass of red wine or vodka soda often causes you to crave munchies. The beneficial metabolic effects of moderate alcohol use on insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis therefore might explain the significant reduction in the risk of development of type 2 diabetes and of cardiovascular disorders (Avogaro et al. Binge drinking or addiction can grow out of this. The decreased firing of impulses in the hippocampus disrupts the formation of the short term memory and accounts for the subsequent blackouts experienced the next day. If you want to become sober, finding a support system to help you on the daunting journey is crucial. ; et al. 2001; Tomie Furuya et al. AVP also may affect cognitive function, because treatment of alcoholic patients with memory deficits by using AVP analogs resulted in improved cognitive performance (Laczi 1987). Issue The -cells produce glucagon, which raises blood glucose levels by stimulating the liver to metabolize glycogen into glucose molecules and to release the glucose into the blood. ; Hiney, J.K.; et al. Thus, BAT was shown to release factors such as IGF-1, fibroblast growth factor-2, IL-1, IL-6, bone morphogenetic protein-8b, and lipocalin prostaglandin D synthase that primarily have autocrine or paracrine actions (Villarroya et al. Journal of Clinical Investigation 95(5):24092415, 1995. Ethanol inhibits the naloxone-induced release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus of the male rat. The hormone normally is secreted in a pulsatile manner, with the major secretory episode of GH occurring shortly after sleep onset, during the first period of slow-wave sleep. 2008; Strbak et al. PMID: 6542626, Sarkola, T.; Makisalo, H.; Fukunaga, T.; and Eriksson, C.J. Effects of ethanol on rat hypothalamic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone. PMID: 395267, Sarkar, D.K. Studies in both humans and animal models have helped shed light on alcohols effects on various components of the endocrine system and their consequences. Diabetes Care 28(3):719725, 2005. 2007). Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 22(5 Suppl. How Does Alcohol Affect the Brain? (It's Not Pretty) - Dr. Axe What Does Meth Do To The Brain? - The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol The HPP axis includes two neuropeptidesAVP and oxytocinboth of which are produced by cells whose cell bodies are located in the hypothalamus but that extend to the posterior pituitary, where they release their hormones. Fetal alcohol exposure from day 7 to day 21 of gestation increased pituitary weight, pituitary prolactin mRNA and protein content, and prolactin plasma levels in female rats compared with control animals (Gangisetty et al. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 7(1):8184, 1981. Does moderate alcohol consumption affect fertility? Current Pharmaceutical Design 18(30):47144724, 2012. ; Mello, N.K. ; Fernandez-Fernandez, R.; et al. How Alcohol Affects the Brain - Know When. Know How. A review published in 2015 reported that chronic heavy drinking can cause glucose intolerance in healthy people. Fertility and Sterility 84(4):919924, 2005. They include: The brain is also made up of two different types of matter: gray and white. The increase in innate immune signaling molecules in the brain associated with chronic alcohol consumption can affect cognitive function and promote alcohol use behaviors. 1976). The Role of The Liver Like the HPA and HPG axes, the HPT axis is regulated by negative-feedback loops where T4 and T3 act back on the hypothalamus and the pituitary to control their own release by inhibiting TRH and TSH secretion. PMID: 7199834, Dearth, R.K.; Hiney, J.K.; and Dees, W.L. IGF-1 then is either released into the general circulation, where it is bound to large circulatory binding proteins that regulate its delivery to target tissues, or it mediates the anabolic effects of GH through paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. They include, among others, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, and growth hormone (GH) and modulate the functions of several peripheral endocrine glands (i.e., adrenal glands, thyroid, and gonads) and tissues (e.g., breast, muscle, liver, bone, and skin) (see the table). Long-term changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. 2010). PMID: 12397512, Pedersen, C.A. Science 221(4611):677679, 1983. Other oxytocin-releasing neurons are located outside the hypothalamus, in the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (Ross and Young 2009). She helps individuals recover from drug, alcohol and gambling dependencies through group and individual therapy and regularly speaks at treatment centers. Alcohol 18(23):109122, 1999. PMID: 1734158, Adinoff, B.; Nemeroff, C.B. Soberlink and the accountability model it provides users often serves as a reminder of effects, such as the ones to the brain, that are occurring due to heavy alcohol consumption. When impaired by alcohol, the hypothalamus has a harder time receiving messages from the body, which can create hormone imbalances, leading to discomfort, headaches, and more.Heres the lesson plan overview to find out how to teach the hypothalamus in your classroom: http://go-faar.org/2fTM2Mi Find the rest of the lesson plans and resources here: http://go-faar.org/2fDcCu0 doi:10.1111/acer.13000. 2002). 2013). Nadia Rachdaoui, Ph.D., and Dipak K. Sarkar, Ph.D., D.Phil. ; Shaw, G.K.; and Thomson, A.D. Thyroid status in chronic alcoholics. A role for increased TRH section in blunting the TSH response also is supported by observations that abstinent patients with AUD who had a severely blunted TSH response to TRH showed increased levels of TRH in the cerebrospinal fluid (Adinoff et al. The only known endocrine factor released by BAT is the active thyroid hormone T3. ; Borges, D.R. Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. This part of the stress response also is regulated by BEP produced from POMC in the hypothalamus, which not only modulates CRH release but also can help decrease the stress response and return the body to a state of homeostasis. Human studies have documented that moderate alcohol consumption induces disruptions in normal hormone levels during puberty, including a decrease in estrogen levels in adolescent girls that was sustained for long periods of time (Block et al. PMID: 8861280, Roser, J.F. Blood alcohol was lower in hypothyroid than hyperthyroid rats following identical doses of alcohol given either intraperitoneally or orally due to more rapid absorption of alcohol from both the peritoneal cavity and the gut in animals treated with T3 (Hillbom, 1971). Chronic ethanol-induced insulin resistance is associated with macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue and altered expression of adipocytokines. It can also:. More commonly known as wet brain, this syndrome is caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Currents in Alcoholism 8:359378,1981. Toxicology 326:4452, 2014. ; Sliwowska, J.H. ; and Zimmet, P.Z. Accordingly, adiponectin plasma levels were significantly increased in the twice-daily administration group compared with the free-access group. Effects of alcoholism cause this region to shrink and reduce in mass while lowering the number of neurons within the prefrontal cortex. PLoS One 7(9):e45593, 2012. PMID: 7832470, Hoffman, P.L., and Tabakoff, B. Centrally acting peptides and tolerance to ethanol. Several mechanisms may contribute to alcohols effects on the various hormones involved in the male HPG axis: The HPT axis is responsible for maintaining normal circulating levels of the thyroid hormones thyroxin (T4) and its active form, triiodothyronine (T3). Reciprocal interactions between the GH axis and sleep. Alcohol can permeate virtually every organ and tissue in the body, resulting in tissue injury and organ dysfunction. ; Castellano, J.M. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine 60(4):317320, 1993. Jenkins and Connolly (1968) showed that plasma cortisol levels significantly increased in healthy subjects at alcohol doses exceeding 100 mg/dL. Thus, prolactin secretion is controlled by a short-loop inhibitory feedback effect, whereby elevated prolactin levels in the circulation stimulate the hypothalamus to release dopamine, which then acts on the pituitary to stop further prolactin release. During puberty, however, LHRH release is triggered by a variety of stimulatory agents, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (Hiney and Dees 1991), norepinephrine (Sarkar et al. Alcohol interferes with communication between nerve cells and all other cells, suppressing the activities of excitatory nerve pathways and increasing the activities of inhibitory nerve pathways. 2001). 1984). PMID: 11141043, Richardson, H.N. In contrast to these effects of chronic alcohol use on thyroid hormones, moderate alcohol consumption was shown to reduce the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Enhanced and delayed stress-induced alcohol drinking in mice lacking functional CRH1 receptors. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) often seems to run in families, and we may hear about scientific studies of an "alcoholism gene.". However, the inflammatory aspect of this disease also can damage islet cells and, therefore, the endocrine pancreas (Apte et al. The size of a pea, this master endocrine gland releases hormones into the bloodstream to reach a wide variety of targets that can affect growth, metabolism, reproduction, and more. 2008). ; Walker, C.H. This suggests that chronic exposure to ethanol induces dysfunction of the thyroid gland, which then is no longer able to properly respond to TRH stimulation. PMID: 1335721, Shayakhmetova, G.M. ; et al. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, thirst, hunger and other bodily functions involved in sleep and emotional activity. Infographic: The Effects of Alcohol on Your Body & Brain Epididymal: Pertaining to the epididymisthe elongated, cordlike structure along the rear of the testis that provides for storage, transit, and maturation of sperm. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 38:7388, 2015. Promoter: Segment of DNA usually in front of a gene that acts as a controlling element in the expression of that gene. Some symptoms include difficulty breathing, vomiting and gagging, low heart rate, and inability to remain conscious, resulting in severe brain damage and even death.. Science 296(5569):931933, 2002. Alcohol causes inflammation in a part of your brain called the hypothalamus, which disrupts your brain's ability to receive signals related to insulin needs in the body. Biomolecules. 2016;40(4):657671. 11. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. In contrast, chronic alcohol consumption significantly increased FSH, LH, and estrogen levels but decreased testosterone and progesterone levels in men with AUD compared with men without AUD (Muthusami and Chinnaswamy 2005). 2005). Soberlink allows users to document sobriety in real-time with a discreet remote breathalyzer that sends results automatically to designated individuals in the users Recovery Circle., More than just an alcohol monitoring device, Soberlinks comprehensive system provides scheduled testing and allows users to track progress via daily, weekly, or monthly reports using an easy-to- read color-coded Advanced Reporting system.. ; Nock, B., Truong, R.; and Cicero, T. J. Nitric oxide control of steroidogenesis: Endocrine effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine and comparisons to alcohol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 8(3):259275, 1983. Epigenetic: Altering the activity of genes without changing their DNA sequences (e.g., through chemical modification of the DNA or the histone proteins around which the DNA is coiled). 2013). Conversely, decreasing adiponectin levels would be expected to result in increasing TNF levels. Alcohol also affects reproductive hormones in postmenopausal women. Journal of Endocrinology 63(2):50P51P, 1974. Endocrinology 131(6):26032608, 1992. The nucleus accumbens and alcoholism: a target for deep brain - focus Many of the risks related to underage drinking are tied directly to the brain and its function. PMID: 18979677, Rivier, C., and Lee, S. Acute alcohol administration stimulates the activity of hypothalamic neurons that express corticotropin-releasing factor and vasopressin. Finally, alcohol interferes with the normal release pattern of GH. Insulin Resistance: Impairment of the normal physiological response to insulin that may be the result of a variety of abnormalities; occurs in diabetes mellitus. Review the basics of neuron structure. Considerable evidence indicates that alcohol abuse results in clinical abnormalities of one of the bodys most important systems, the endocrine system. ; Pritchard, M.T. 1983). 6 Endocrine effects of alcohol - ScienceDirect Macrophages residing in the brain (i.e., microglia) play an important role in these neurotoxic effects of alcohol (Boyadjieva and Sarkar 2010; Fernandez-Lizarbe et al. These increased estradiol levels could in part explain alcohols negative effects on menstrual cycle regularity. Alcohol also destroys brain cells. ; Dissen, G.A. According to the . PMID: 3133465, Oomizu, S.; Boyadjieva, N.; and Sarkar, D.K. 1991). PMID: 2069537, Sengupta, A., and Sarkar, D.K. Increased adipose tissue expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human obesity and insulin resistance. Anybody can develop ataxia-related problems that affecting . Characterization of the potent luteinizing hormone-releasing activity of KiSS-1 peptide, the natural ligand of GPR54. However, a discussion of this evidence and the proposed mechanisms is beyond the scope of this article. Reproductive Neuroendocrinology of Aging and Drug Abuse. HPG axis function is controlled through feedback mechanisms, where testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone control their own production by acting on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary to inhibit or stimulate the release of LHRH, LH, and FSH (Sarkar 1983). 2008) as well as reduced responsiveness of the pituitary to CRF (Sarnyai et al. Alcohol 12(6):581587, 1995. Circulation 102(11):12961301, 2000. PMID: 1999162, Mauras, N.; Rogol, A.D.; Haymond, M.W. How Alcohol Impacts the Brain | Northwestern Medicine PMID: 20616493, Sarkar, D.K., and Boyadjieva, N.I. During childhood, the LHRH surge is repressed through inhibitory signals in the hypothalamus mediated by -aminobutyric acid and opioid peptides (Terasawa and Fernandez 2001). Cell Biology and Toxicology 25(2):141152, 2009. Gender-related differences in serum leptin concentrations may influence the clinical course of ALD, which differs in males and females. Initiation and progression of puberty are controlled by signals from the central nervous system that stimulate the pulsatile diurnal secretion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) from the hypothalamus into the hypothalamicpituitary portal system (Sarkar and Fink 1979; Sarkar et al. Elevated prolactin levels also were reported in women with AUD and admitted for alcoholism treatment who reported drinking an average of 84 g of alcohol (i.e., approximately 7 standard drinks) per day for at least 7 years (Seki et al. Arukoru Kenkyuto Yakubutsu Ison 26(1):4959, 1991. PMID: 11505028, Emanuele, N.V.; LaPaglia, N.; Steiner, J.; et al. ; Lee, S.Y. Specific hypothalamic hormones bind to receptors on specific anterior pituitary cells, modulating the release of the hormone they produce. A prospective population-based study of alcohol use and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. British Journal of Nutrition 107(6):850857, 2012. Continued meth abuse can severely damage dopamine and serotonin neurons, affecting how a person feels, acts and thinks. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 564:261266, 1989. Continued use of alcohol can cause atrophy of the cerebellum - a shrinkage of the brain. Inhibitory pathways and the inhibition of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone release by alcohol. Alcohol consumption and digestive tract cancer. 2012). At the same time, the AVP binds to V1b receptors, potentiating the effects of CRF on ACTH production in the anterior pituitary. ; Sliwowska, J.H. In addition, social drinkers had anovulatory cycles, and 3 of 5 heavy drinkers exhibited excessive levels of prolactin in the blood (i.e., hyperprolactinemia) (Mendelson et al. Other studies evaluated alcohols effects on numerous other factors that regulate GH secretion either through direct actions on the anterior pituitary or by modulating GHRH and somatostatin release from the hypothalamus. 2003).3 Thus, male rats that had received ethanol for 4 weeks exhibited significantly decreased mRNA levels of adiponectin and retinol binding protein 4 but increased mRNA levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, TNF, and IL-6 in epididymal adipose tissue. Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1, Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1, Hypothalamicpituitarythyroid axis, Uterus, mammary glands, male reproductive organs, Glucocorticoids (cortisol, corticosterone), Body stress, metabolism, glucose maintenance, Female reproductive glands and tissues, bones, heart, Maintenance of pregnancy and preparation of breast tissue. Alcohol acts as a depressant for the. Drinking alcohol really can make you hungrier, according to a 2017 study conducted by the Francis Crick Institute in the UK. PMID: 8452122, Holbrook, T.L. PMID: 15596091, Olive, M.F. Specifically, an alcohol-induced blackout occurs in the hippocampus part of your brain, where memory consolidation happens. Finally, people with a family history of alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibited hyperresponsiveness of the stress response mediated by the HPA axis (Uhart et al. Journal of Adolescent Health Care 7(1):2833, 1986. Its production and actions are regulated by TNF, with the two compounds suppressing each others production and antagonizing each others actions in target tissues (Maeda et al. The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Psychoneuroimmunlogy. These receptors then translocate to the cell nucleus, where they bind to specific DNA sequences called glucocorticoid response elements of genes that are responsive to glucocorticoids, thereby positively or negatively regulating the expression of those genes. ; DallArche, A.; et al. As an example, thyroid-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus . Drinking alcohol can impair the functions of the glands that release hormones and the functions of the tissues targeted by the hormones, which can result in medical problems. In response to stress (i.e., psychological, physical, or infectious stressors) or other homeostatic challenges, neurons in the PVN of the hypothalamus synthesize and secrete CRF and AVP. The analyses found elevated total levels of adiponectin and resistin in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) compared with control subjects. 2009). Animal studies using mice that produced no CRF (i.e., CRF knockout mice) found that when the animals were exposed to ethanol (in a continuous- or a limited-access paradigm), they consumed twice as much ethanol as their counterparts with a functional CRF gene. 2008). The site is secure. Dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens During Alcohol-Heightened Aggressive ; Hall, M.; Sollers, J.J. 3rd; and Fischer, J.E. Decreases balance and coordination; Slows reflexes. The fat-derived hormone adiponectin alleviates alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in mice. Animal Reproduction Science 107(34):179196, 2008. PMID: 12840063, Yokota, T.; Oritani, K.; Takahashi, I.; et al. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 45(11):15421550, 2008. Neuropeptides 32(3):211214, 1998. AUDs often are associated with chronic systemic inflammation and high levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines. See full answer below. Alcohol-induced hyperprolactinemia also was evident in postmenopausal women (Gavaler 1994) and in men with AUD (Soyka et al. ; Park, Y.; Stolzenberg-Solomon, R.Z. The Developing Brain | Power to the Parent Can alcohol promote aromatization of androgens to estrogens? A review PMID: 7215157, Mandrekar, P.; Bala, S.; Catalano, D.; et al. Moreover, the body doesn't get able to absorb vitamins and nutrients. Life Sciences 93(21):778782, 2013. For those with severe addiction, rehabilitation or detoxification may be the best first step in a treatment plan. In men with AUD and cirrhosis, a decrease in IGF-1 bioavailability as a result of liver disease contributes at least in part to the elevated circulating levels of estradiol and estrone (Martinez-Riera et al. PMID: 8749812, Terasawa, E., and Fernandez, D. L. Neurobiological mechanisms of the onset of puberty in primates. PMID: 8232378, Rogers, C.Q. A role for corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in ethanol consumption, sensitivity, and reward as revealed by CRF-deficient mice. British Journal of Pharmacology 148(3):245254, 2006. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 3(1):19, 1991. PMID: 15111562, Tomie Furuya, D.; Binsack, R.; Onishi, M.E. Alcohol and the HPA Axis - Sanesco Health American Journal of Epidemiology 132(5):902909, 1990. 2015). ; Bondarenko, L.B. Sperm development and therefore fertility, Development of secondary sexual characteristics, Impaired sexual and reproductive functions, Adversely affect bone metabolism via nutritional deficiencies, Altering reproductive hormones, affecting bone metabolism, Causing PTH deficiency and increase calcium excretion, Inhibiting activity of bone-forming cells, Limiting adequate absorption of dietary calcium. Hormone and Metabolic Research 28(12):619632, 1996. POMC can be cleaved into several smaller peptides, including ACTH; -endorphin (BEP); and three similar peptides called -, -, and -melanocyte stimulating hormones. Buddy Tis an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. ; and Dees, W.L. However, conflicting changes in peripheral thyroid hormones in response to alcohol exposure and withdrawal have been reported. ; Boldt, B.M. The Alcohol Pharmacology Education Partnership is powered by WordPress at Duke WordPress Sites. How Alcohol Affects Your Developing Hypothalamus - YouTube When circulating levels of thyroid hormones are low, the hypothalamus responds by releasing TRH, which then stimulates thyrotropic cells in the anterior pituitary to produce and secrete TSH. PMID: 8373011, Vescovi, P.P., and Coiro, V. Effect of diazepam on growth hormone secretion in abstinent alcoholic men. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 562:211240, 1989. Genetics certainly influence our likelihood of developing AUD, but the story isn't so simple. ; Bree, M.P. WAT also expresses several receptors that allow it to respond to signals from other hormone systems and from the central nervous system. Alcohol depresses nerve cells in the hypothalamus, thus influencing arousal, ability and performance.

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how does alcohol affect the hypothalamus

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