New study takes a ‘deep dive’ into brain infections that magnify epilepsy
SA has high rates of epilepsy, with one in every 100 South Africans living with the brain disorder, mainly caused by parasitic infections that affect the brain. In SA most…
Sleep Neurotherapeutics: Identifying the Challenges and Opportunities
Sleep disorders are associated with a range of comorbidities and a substantial impairment in quality of life. Sleep disorders may result from or affect the progression of neurologic diseases, such…
Inexpensive anti-seizure drug benefits Alzheimer’s patients with silent epileptic activity
An inexpensive anti-seizure medication markedly improves learning and memory and other cognitive functions in Alzheimer’s patients who have epileptic activity in their brains, according to a study published in the Sept. 27th…
Pet Dogs Can Alert Owners to Epileptic Seizures
Sit. Fetch. Stay. Detect seizure. Yes, you read that correctly. While many dogs are adept at following basic instructions such as “sit” and “roll over” with some practice and the…
Late-Onset Epilepsy Linked to Increased Risk for Death in Older Adults
Compared with patients without epilepsy, those with late-onset epilepsy may be at increased risk for death, even after adjusting for comorbidities, according to study findings published in Neurology. In addition,…
Family Planning with Epilepsy: What to Consider
For women with epilepsy, family planning involves some unique issues. Whether a woman wishes to delay pregnancy until the time is right or prevent pregnancy long term, an awareness of…
Epilepsy brain implant does not transform patients’ sense of self or personality but offers them new insights into illness, study shows
A next-generation brain implant currently in clinical use for treating refractory epilepsy — to help prevent symptoms including seizures — does not induce changes to patients’ personalities or self-perceptions, a…
Epilepsy surgery may improve overall brain health
Epilepsy surgery may be associated with improvements to overall brain health, a study led by University of Liverpool researchers has found. The study, published in Neurology, the medical journal of…
Marijuana-like brain substance calms seizures but increases aftereffects, study finds
A marijuana-like chemical in the brain, mirroring its plant-based counterpart, packs both ups and downs. Epileptic seizures trigger the rapid synthesis and release of a substance mimicked by marijuana’s most…
Breath test to determine correct treatment for epilepsy
Epilepsy affects some 50 million people worldwide and pharmaceutical treatment of the disease is a tightrope walk, as the dose must be tailored precisely to the individual patient: “Slightly too…