Robyn McCarthy
LightNews LightNews
banner
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
Robyn McCarthy
@robynmccarthy.bsky.social
70 followers 79 following 68 posts
Parent, geek, originally trained as an Optometrist now working in public health with an interest in child development, mixed methods and policy change.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
Robyn McCarthy @robynmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 14
Got 10 minutes? We want to hear from YOU!
We’re gathering opinions on a new potential test for prenatal alcohol exposure. Whether you’re a parent, a health advocate or just care about future health research, your input is invaluable.
Follow QR code below:
#Health #Research #MakeADifference #POV
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
pamw143.bsky.social
Cholesterol in Down syndrome
Do people with Down syndrome have the same risk of atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the arteries resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart muscle) as others?
Screening
Statins?
DSCWP Podcast 212. No transcript.
adscresources.advocatehealth.com/down-syndrom...
Blue poster. Down Syndrome Center of Western Pennsylvania podcast. Cholesterol in Down syndrome. Colorful drawing of unidentified internal organs. Heart and arteries? Host: Dr. Kishore Vellody, Medical Director of the Down Syndrome Center of Western Pennsylvania. Guest. Dr. Brian Chicoine. Advocate Medical Group. Adult Down Syndrome Center in Chicago. Above the poster is a Facebook message from the Adult Down Syndrome Center. Brian Chicoine, MD, Medical Director of our Adult Down Syndrome Center, was the guest on a recent episode of the Down Syndrome Center of Western PA's podcast. Dr. Chicoine discussed cholesterol in people with Down syndrome with Kishore Vellody, MD, the host of the podcast and the Medical Director of the Down Syndrome Center in Pennsylvania. Some of the questions they address in the episode include: Do people with Down syndrome have the same risk of atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the arteries resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart muscle) as people without Down syndrome? What are the cholesterol screening recommendations for people with Down syndrome? Are statins commonly recommended for people with Down syndrome? Links to the episode and other episodes related to health of adolescents and adults with Down syndrome are available in our Resource Library. Episodes Related to Adolescent and Adult Health. No transcript. #212. Cholesterol in Down Syndrome: Should We Worry About It? Nov 6, 2025. Show Notes. Dr. Brian Chicoine from the Adult Down Syndrome Center in Chicago joined the podcast again today, this time to discuss a listener question on cholesterol. There's data that people with Down syndrome do not seem to get cholesterol related plaques on the arteries around the heart. Knowing this, should we be checking cholesterol levels? Is there an association between cholesterol and Alzheimer disease? Listen to find out more. https://downsyndromecenter.libsyn.com/dsc/212-cholesterol-in-down-syndrome-should-we-worry-about-it
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
notalawyer.bsky.social
i love winding the clocks back an hour. you get an extra hour of sleep and the only downside is several months of horrible despair.
November 3, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
salfordfasd.bsky.social
Calling all OTs! This podcast is for you. We know you know what FASD is.... but do you know how common it is and how it presents in clinic? From the good people at NHS_GM and Drymester working together to support people living with FASD.
drymester-nhsgm.bsky.social DRYMESTER @drymester-nhsgm.bsky.social · Sep 11
Are you an Occupational Therapist who would like to know more about FASD?

In our new OT podcast, Maggie Morton and Joanne Pennell discuss the role of sensory integration and how to make the most of your OT 'toolbox'.

Listen here: www.drymester.org.uk/ot-podcast/
#FASDAwarenessMonth
September 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
You can scan the QR above or follow this link to take part -> forms.office.com/e/DxS1XcL0SD
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
September 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
We want to know what you think! Please help us with our research by taking part in this quick survey. Anyone can participate & you don't need any special knowledge or experience. Any questionsand/or more info email: r.e.mccarthy1@salford.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Junk food leads to more children being obese than underweight for first time
Cheap ultra-processed food behind rise in overweight children, with one in 10 now obese globally, says Unicef
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:43 AM
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Food industry lobbying is leading Labour to drop public health plans, experts say
Inaction on ill-health prevention after pressure from junk food and alcohol firms ‘could cause NHS collapse’
www.theguardian.com
September 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
We want to know what you think! Please help us with our research by taking part in this quick survey. Anyone can participate & you don't need any special knowledge or experience. Any questionsand/or more info email: r.e.mccarthy1@salford.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
salfordfasd.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/roby...
robynmccarthy.bsky.social Robyn McCarthy @robynmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 14
Got 10 minutes? We want to hear from YOU!
We’re gathering opinions on a new potential test for prenatal alcohol exposure. Whether you’re a parent, a health advocate or just care about future health research, your input is invaluable.
Follow QR code below:
#Health #Research #MakeADifference #POV
August 14, 2025 at 12:42 PM
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
I'm being told to just post this on Twitter as its not getting enough responses. I refuse to use Twitter. Please help? It's a short research survey to collect public opinion on a new possible test to find out if someone has been exposed to alcohol in the womb. forms.office.com/e/DxS1XcL0SD
August 29, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
steve-everitt.bsky.social
New rule. A parent may only propose removing a book from the school library only after reading it in its entirety and delivering a book report to the librarian. Until then no discussion shall be entered into.
August 28, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
salfordfasd.bsky.social
Do you think FASD should be included under the neurodivergent umbrella? #FASD #Different #Autism #ADHD Credit to @autismsupsoc.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
victoriaduncan.bsky.social
I don't know who needs to hear this but autistic people, especially women, make up a surprisingly high proportion of patients with eating disorders, tend to benefit less from standard treatments, and many do not have an autism diagnosis at the time they're in treatment for an eating disorder.
July 27, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
lisabug.bsky.social
Call me unhinged, but I just ordered six books on minimalism.
July 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
bmj.com
Many high street health tests are unfit for purpose and need greater regulation, warn researchers in two studies.

These studies highlight issues over accuracy and suitability for public use, they say
www.bmj.com/content/390/...
www.bmj.com/content/390/...
Self tests
July 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
salfordfasd.bsky.social
Hearing from @nationalfasd.bsky.social about the lack of action on PAE and FASD by NHS trusts and ICBs throughout the UK despite the NICE quality guidelines.
June 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
drymester-nhsgm.bsky.social
Tracy Allen from FASD Awareness shares some top tips for caregivers and her family's own lived experience #FASDUK2025
June 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
salfordfasd.bsky.social
And now Anita Gibb from NZ presents her research with parents caring for children with FASD. "Survival parenting, weird humour, tenacity, faith, hope spiritual and cultural practices.." #FASDUK2025
June 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
salfordfasd.bsky.social
Next up is Dr Cheryl McQuire presenting on approaches to research with people with FASD. #FASDUK2025 #nothingaboutuswithoutus
June 10, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
researchip.bsky.social
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that occurs in the fetus due to prenatal alcohol exposure.

Explore an updated Research in Practice briefing on its impact for #AlcoholAwarenessWeek. ow.ly/I6MR50WmYPI
July 10, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
robynmccarthy.bsky.social
Please consider taking 5 mins + tell us what you think about using molecular biomarkers to screen for exposure to alcohol in the womb. It will help us plan future research on this topic. Anyone over 18 can take part. #research #publicopinion #health Pls share
July 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
arthur.baron-clement.com
press start
#art
Rough landscape digital painting of an old bridge in some green mountains. A pink-dressed girl is watching the view in the foreground. A huge golden cloud is blurring out the horizon.
July 15, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
uk.theconversation.com
Mental healthcare moved online overnight during COVID — but would it hold up?
Online therapy as effective as in-person therapy, finds large study
Mental healthcare moved online overnight during COVID — but would it hold up?
tcnv.link
July 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Robyn McCarthy
uos-health-society.bsky.social
We proudly hosted a landmark event in the field of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) this month, welcoming researchers, practitioners, families, and advocates to the UK FASD Conference 2025.

@salfordfasd.bsky.social @prof-penny.bsky.social

Read more: www.salford.ac.uk/news/nationa...
Professor Penny Cook picks up her signed copy of Rossi Griffin’s book. Both Penny and Rossi are smiling to the camera as Rossi signs a copy of his book for her.
June 27, 2025 at 11:01 AM