NEWS
High dose of Topiramate during pregnancy can up the risk of cleft lip or cleft palate in babies
The risk was higher when the mother took high doses of the drug than when she took lower doses. A study says a higher dose of topiramate drug during the first tri-semester of pregnancy may up the risk of cleft lip or cleft palate more than when taking a lower...
No Improvement Seen in Treatment Outcomes among Patients with Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy Despite Newer AEDs, Study Finds
This study shows the need for more research into epilepsy! As the 3rd most common neurological disease it gets a very small percentage or research dollars. We all need to work with our elected officials to get $. EpilepsyU The treatment outcomes of patients...
Mitochondrial metabolite linked to regulation of neurotransmission
A team of researchers has discovered a novel level of regulation of the communication between neurons and other cells. The metabolite alpha-ketoglutarate, a product of the metabolism of mitochondria, the energy generators of the cell, plays an unexpected role in the...
Autoimmune Epilepsy
Despite the fact that epilepsy is the third most common chronic brain disorder, relatively little is known about the processes leading to the generation of seizures. Accumulating data support an autoimmune basis in patients with antiepileptic drug-resistant seizures....
DNA test pinpoints cause of teenager’s epileptic seizures, allowing for proper treatment
After years of being told seizures were "just in her head", a young Australian girl has finally learned what was causing her mystery illness. DNA sequencing technology was able to confirm 17-year-old Teresa's condition was due to a defective collagen gene....
Risk for Late-Onset Epilepsy Linked to a Class of Protein, Smoking, Diabetes
A recent study has shown that a class of proteins involved in the metabolism of fats in the body. Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) genotype and the presence of potentially modifiable risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and diabetes in midlife are associated with a higher risk for late-onset epilepsy.
Nanotubes go with the flow to penetrate brain tissue
Rice University researchers have invented a device that uses fast-moving fluids to insert flexible, conductive carbon nanotube fibers into the brain, where they can help record the actions of neurons. The Rice team’s microfluidics-based technique promises to...
3D Printed Lenses to Help Prevent Photosensitive Epileptic Seizures
Many people have probably heard about the fact that flashing lights can cause seizures. About 3% of people who have epilepsy are affected by flashing lights when experienced at particular intensities or patterns. It is more common in young people and sometimes goes...
What is Todd’s paralysis?
Todd's paralysis is experienced by some people with epilepsy. It happens after a seizure when it becomes impossible to move all or part of the body. Epilepsy is a condition that causes electrical activity in the brain that can stop it working for a short time....
Amazing tiny implantable device to study epilepsy!
Cambridge, MA based research lab Draper says it hopes to make a newly developed implantable electronic device available to researchers to study the effects on disorders ranging from epilepsy to Parkinson’s disease. The device, the first radio wave-powered...
The World Health Organization Announcement About Cannabidiol Is Big News For People With Epilepsy, But More Research Needs To Be Done
Marijuana’s effect on the body has garnered more and more interest as it becomes legal for medical and recreational use in different states. People who are against marijuana legalization cite the potential for addiction and other dangerous side effects, but a new...
Cannabis and Epilepsy Treatment
Since medicinal cannabis has become a more commonplace alternative for a well-established list of ailments, patients are finding a place for it next to their Advil and Tums. But unlike many other chronic illnesses that can be managed with over-the-counter supplements,...
Study Finds Epilepsy Patients Feel Better After Daily CBD Regimen
WASHINGTON DC — Patients with intractable epilepsy in Alabama felt better overall one year after initiating a daily cannabidiol (CBD) regimen, according to a study presented here, despite also reporting declining social support and more stressful events over the...
Presurgical imaging may predict whether epilepsy surgery will work
Rice University statisticians show integrative analysis can predict risk of postoperative seizures Surgery to remove a part of the brain to give relief to patients with epilepsy doesn’t always result in complete seizure relief, but statisticians at Rice...
Neurons: The basics
Neurons are responsible for carrying information throughout the human body. Using electrical and chemical signals, they help coordinate all of the necessary functions of life. In this article, we explain what neurons are and how they work. In short, our nervous...
Children born to mothers with arthritis are 160% more likely to have epilepsy
Conclusion from a study of 1.4 million births. They are also three times as likely to develop the agonizing condition in later life Experts say children born to arthritis sufferers should be given 'special attention' The study, published in JAMA...
Mom captures daughter’s seizures to show parents the reality of infantile spasms
Mom Sherrie Judd wants parents to know what the reality of infantile spasms looks like. In a Facebook post that now gone viral, Judd shared a short video of six children having seizures, including her own daughter, Adalind. "Just under a year ago, our life...
Dump those derogatory disability terms
But don't be overly politically correct about it Disability language has changed dramatically in recent decades — most would argue for the better — but even advocates for change feel some of these new terms are "overly politically correct". With help...
Electronic ‘Nose’ Offers Rapid Epilepsy Diagnosis
An electronic "nose" that measures various compounds in exhaled breath reliably distinguishes patients with epilepsy from controls, new research shows. The noninvasive diagnostic tool is faster, less costly, and less invasive than electroencephalography (EEG) — the...
Old Weight-Loss Drug Cuts Seizures in Dravet Syndrome
A drug that has previously been used as a weight-loss agent dramatically reduces seizures in young patients with Dravet syndrome (DS), new research shows. A new phase 3 study showed that compared with patients taking placebo, those taking low-dose fenfluramine...
