Epilepsy

The brain of 34-year-old Amber Pearson contains a one-of-a-kind implant. The Oregon resident is the first person to have a deep brain stimulation device that manages both her epileptic seizures and her obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms. Her subsequent improvement has inspired scientists to conduct larger studies of the technology.Alex Winter on Innovative Horror Movies Pearson’s story was first detailed in a case report published last October in the journal Neuron, along with an accompanying article from Oregon…

American Amber Pearson used to wash her hands until they bled, terrified by the idea of contamination from everyday items, a debilitating result of her obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).But the repetitive rituals of her condition are largely consigned to memory, thanks to a revolutionary brain implant that is being used to treat both her epilepsy and her OCD."I'm actually present in my daily life and that's incredible," the 34-year-old told AFP."Before, I was just constantly in my head worrying about my…

As of today, the UK is criminalising actions such as cyberflashing and — in a world fist — epilepsy-trolling, with offenders potentially facing prison time. The new offences will come into play as part of the Online Safety Act, a recently introduced bill designed to protect people from illegal or “harmful” online content. Cyberflashing is the act of sending unwanted sexual photos. Studies have shown that about half of younger women (aged between 18 and 25) have received unsolicited nude…

A groundbreaking study by researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, UCL, and MSD identifies the Cav2.3 calcium channel as a key factor in CDKL5 deficiency disorder, a genetic epilepsy. This discovery offers a new potential treatment path through Cav2.3 inhibitors, marking a significant advancement in epilepsy research. Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, UCL, and MSD have identified a potential treatment target for a genetic type of epilepsy. Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are rare types of…

A new research study reveals that slow brain waves, typical during sleep, also occur in awake individuals with epilepsy, offering protection against brain excitability. While these waves reduce epileptic activity, they negatively impact memory tasks, suggesting a potential new treatment approach for epilepsy. UCL researchers find that slow brain waves, common in sleep, also occur in awake epilepsy patients, protecting against seizures but affecting memory, hinting at new epilepsy treatments. Slow waves that usually only…

For medication-resistant epileptics, surgery is often the only way to stop seizures. However, for those with frontal lobe epilepsy, sometimes surgery doesn’t ensure the seizures stop. A new study has uncovered connections in the brain that go some way to explaining why some frontal lobe surgeries are more successful in stopping seizures long term.As one of the most common neurological diseases, epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide. Frontal lobe epilepsy is a common form of epilepsy characterized by brief…

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures or convulsions. It affects people of all ages and can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe.Recent research conducted by psychologists at the University of Vienna has found that there is no scientific basis for the claimed beneficial impact of Mozart’s Sonata KV448 on epilepsy.For the past half a century, there have been remarkable claims about the impact of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s music. The reports of the supposed alleviation of…

While Apple TV software updates aren't known for adding fancy new features, the tvOS 16.4 release has brought with it one very important addition.Apple recently released tvOS 16.4 to the public after a weeks-long beta program, and while it isn't what anyone would call laden with features, one accessibility feature will surely be well received by epilepsy sufferers around the globe.According to the software's release notes, owners of the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD can now use a feature that is designed to reduce the…

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures. Seizures are temporary disruptions of the electrical and chemical activity in the brain, leading to physical symptoms such as convulsions, muscle contractions, loss of consciousness, and changes in behavior. It is estimated to affect over 65 million people worldwide.International research teams have uncovered a new cause for pediatric seizures: mosaicism, a condition in which cells within the same individual have different genetic…

By Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences December 21, 2022Researchers developed a method to target specific neurons and change their excitability with light for long periods of time. Credit: Emma Hsiao/Harvard SEASMethod offers new approach to treating neurological conditions such as epilepsy.A new method to target diseased neurons in the brain and change their long-term behavior using light, paving the way for potential new treatments for neurological conditions such as epilepsy and autism…