Syosset High School, New York: Minal Shah and Her Insights

Hi, my name is Minal Shah and I’m from Long Island. I’m 16 years old and a junior. I am very fascinated with neuroscience and brain function. I plan on majoring in neuroscience and building a career in neurology. In my free time I enjoy watching documentaries (true-crime or history), exploring new places, baking and reading. My favorite subjects have been history and science. My favorite season is summer. I’m really excited about studying neuroscience and technology, plus the impact they have on the world.

Reviewed Article: Groundbreaking robotic surgery, Alzheimer's blood test: 7 of the biggest medical breakthroughs in 2025 by Mary Kekatos.

Main Argument & Findings:

This article discusses several impactful medical breakthroughs in the field of neuroscience and biology. This article found that there is a more rapidly advancing progression of diagnosing patients with serious health conditions early on, more specifically brain-related conditions like Alzheimer’s. A major finding noted is a new type of blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s early on. The article also reported that with the use of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI’s), it allows for people suffering with neuromuscular conditions to control output devices simply through their thoughts. These findings are significant because they highlight potential opportunities for helping neurologically impaired individuals to develop some cognitive abilities, to express themselves and not depend on someone else completely. There are also other findings in this article regarding sleep apnea, but listed above are just two of the main neuroscience and biomedical engineering breakthrough findings.

Importance for Youth:

The information shared in this article is important for the youth to acknowledge because it demonstrates the rapidly growing knowledge in the field of neuroscience and how technology is playing a huge role in that. Even though brain-related conditions are usually associated with older people, it’s important for the youth to understand the importance of taking care of themselves especially, their brain health. Early detection can help them understand what changes they should make to avoid certain conditions from developing. The use of technology plays a significant role in today’s society and it’s important to understand how it shapes the future of neuroscience and biomedical engineering. By acknowledging these advancements, it can help inspire the youth to understand science from a different perspective, providing opportunities for them to possibly develop new ideas that can contribute to bettering the lives of people living with neurological conditions.

What I Learned: 

        The topic of brain-computer interfaces has fascinated me for years and contributed to my desire to study neuroscience after high school. From this article I learned how rapidly neuroscience is advancing because just a few years ago when I first came across the topic of brain computer interfaces, it didn’t seem possible for it to help this many people and to advance this much in such a small amount of time. It puts into perspective just how quickly neuroscience is evolving. I also learned that Alzheimer's is now being detected earlier through a simple blood test when prior to this there was a much more complex process of diagnosing. I learned that these advancements are no longer just simple theories that people had, they are actual innovations that are now helping people that are struggling with neuromuscular impairments. Technology like this has helped it become easier to detect brain related conditions earlier and take action, but they have also helped re-establish communication and function for those who already developed those conditions.

         The real world connection is the impact that these innovations have had on people and their families. If Alzheimer’s is getting diagnosed earlier, it allows for families to be prepared in steps for caring. Upon further research in brain computer interfaces, it has not only helped people struggling from paralysis, It has helped with stroke patients, patients struggling with ALS Or Parkinson’s, it has even proven to be helpful for people suffering from traumatic brain injuries with rehabilitation. The use of this type of technology has allowed for better care for human beings and bci’s have allowed people with neuromuscular conditions to regain some independence and self autonomy.

Citations: Kekatos, M. (2025, December). Groundbreaking robotic surgery, Alzheimer’s blood test among 7 biggest health breakthroughs of 2025. ABC News. https://abcnews.com/Health/groundbreaking-robotic-surgery-alzheimers-blood-test-7-biggest/story?id=128654798