NEWS
Epilepsy Therapies Can Worsen Some Mitochondrial Disorders, Experts Warn
Epilepsy is a common manifestation of mitochondrial disorders for about half of the people with the energy-production malfunction. In most cases, doctors can use epilepsy therapies to treat epilepsy stemming from mitochondrial problems. But the treatments can worsen...
What causes seizures in sleep? Nocturnal epilepsy explained
Epilepsy is a serious condition that is characterized by uncontrollable limb twitching, jerking, and in many cases, loss of consciousness. Caused by abnormal activity in brain cells, seizures can affect brain processes and lead to symptoms such as confusion, a lack of...
Eye test could help diagnose autism
A new study out in European Journal of Neuroscience could herald a new tool that helps physicians identify a sub-group of people with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The test, which consists of measuring rapid eye movements, may indicate deficits in an area of the...
Cannabis compound quells seizures in severe epilepsy syndrom
A component of marijuana called cannabidiol eased seizures in children with Dravet syndrome, a potentially fatal form of epilepsy, in a late-stage clinical trial1. Dravet syndrome stems from mutations in sodium channels, most often in a gene called SCN1A. A gene in...
Epilepsy biomarkers pave way for noninvasive diagnosis, better treatments
Researchers have identified a unique metabolic signature associated with epileptic brain tissue that causes seizures. The chemical biomarker can be detected noninvasively using technology based on magnetic resonance imaging. It will allow physicians to precisely...
Potential Surgery Treatment for Certain Epilepsy Patients, Review Says
A technique called MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MgLiTT) may be a potential treatment for epilepsy patients, according to a recent review. Researchers say that MgLiTT may be a particularly viable option for patients whose seizures are caused by...
Health & Wellness: Detecting childhood epilepsy — it’s not their attention span
Sometimes Shelby would be there, but not “all there.” At the dinner table, her parents and siblings would catch her “zoning out”; she’d stop paying attention to the conversation and need to be jostled back to focus. They’d chide her for being so rude, then continue...
Surgery in Older Patients with Drug-resistant Focal Epilepsy Still Effective, Study Finds
Researchers studied the medical records of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who underwent surgery for the disorder at the age of 50 or older and found that the treatment was as effective as it was for patients younger than 50. However, there was a higher...
Autism: Which children respond to oxytocin treatment?
Oxytocin treatment has been proven efficient in improving the social behavior of some children with autism, studies have found. A new clinical trial investigates which children will respond best to this treatment and why. Autism is a developmental disability that...
Ultra-Marathon Cyclist Who Is Epileptic Breaks Two World Indoor Distance Records
An ultra-marathon cyclist with epilepsy has broken world indoor-track records for the longest distances covered in six and eight hours. Katie Ford dedicated the records she broke on July 2 at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow’s Emirates Arena to raising epilepsy...
Stereo EEG provides a deep, detailed map of the brain as physicians evaluate patients for the surgical treatment of epilepsy.
For patients that find their seizures difficult to manage on medications, other treatment options such as diet, devices or surgery may be beneficial. Dr. Amy Crepeau, neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, discusses the evaluation of patients with epilepsy using brain...
How an autism gene mutation alters brain development
By analyzing the brains of mice, researchers have discovered how mutations in a gene called CHD8 may alter brain development and cognitive functioning to cause autism.Researchers from the United States and Canada found that CHD8 gene mutations altered gene expression...
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves that emanate from the brain. It transmits information to or from the surface of the brain to tissues and organs elsewhere in the body.The name "vagus" comes from the Latin term for...
FDA Approves VNS Therapy Treatment for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in Children as Young as Four Years Old
It was announced today that the FDA approves VNS Therapy® system (“VNS Therapy”) in patients as young as four years of age with partial onset seizures that are refractory to antiepileptic medications. This groundbreaking achievement makes VNS Therapy the first and...
Nearly Half of Persons With Epilepsy Forget to Take Their Meds at Least Once a Month, Poll Shows
Almost half of epilepsy patients surveyed in a British poll say they’ve forgotten to take their medications at least once in the past month. Researchers at Epilepsy Research UK wanted to know how meticulously people receiving their newsletter adhere to medication...
Anti-epilepsy drug restores normal brain activity in mild Alzheimer’s disease
Feasibility study suggests suppressing seizure-like activity may help patients - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center In the last decade, mounting evidence has linked seizure-like activity in the brain to some of the cognitive decline seen in patients with Alzheimer's...
Opinion: It’s time to bring epilepsy awareness out of the dark ages
It is one of the most common brain ailments, affecting over 65 million people globally, and yet it remains shrouded in stigma and ignorance. Epilepsy: a disease that is as old as civilization itself. According to Epilepsy Canada, tablets regarding medical records from...
Seizures By Drivers Rare But Dangerous Says Boca Raton Car Accident Lawyer Joe Osborne
To be safe a driver you must be fully alert and capable of mentally and physically functioning so there’s no danger posed to the driver, passengers and others on the road. Drivers who suffer seizures behind the wheel can cause car accidents that result in serious...
Epilepsy Patients More Likely to Have Been Abused as Children, Study Finds
Childhood abuse, both sexual and emotional, is more frequently reported in epilepsy patients when compared to the general population, according to the results of a German study. These findings are in agreement with previous studies and highlight the need for...
First ‘Bachelorette’ Trista Sutter still doesn’t know what caused scary seizure
The first “Bachelorette” Trista Sutter continues to live with unanswered questions about her health, after suffering some kind of seizure while vacationing with her family in Croatia last month. The 44-year-old mother of two opened up about her heath scare in an...
