Brain Injury Lawyer - New York

Refractory Epilepsy Seminar in New York City

The New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy foundation FACES (Finding A Cure For Epilepsy) has announced that registration is now open for the final Evening Lecture which will be held on Monday, June 16, 2008.

Dr. Lara Marcuse will speak on the topic of "Refractory Epilepsy”.  REGISTER by clicking here.

A webcast is now available for the FACES April 28th Evening Lecture "Side Effects of Anti Epileptic Drugs" presented by Dr. Jacqueline French.  Click here to view this lecture.

Epilepsy Summer Camp Scholarships

FACES (Finding a Cure For Epilepsy), sponsored by the NYU Compehensive Epilepsy Department, is once again offering children affected by epilepsy the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful summer camp experience.

Families with a demonstrated financial need can visit the Faces website and apply for a select number of scholarships towards tuition at camps around the country. The list of approved summer camps can be found on the Summer Camps page of the FACES website . You can complete the summer camp scholarship application that can be found on this page and submit it to the faces office.

All applications must be received by June 1, 2008 for consideration.  If you have any questions, you can send an e-mail

Epilepsy Seminars in New York City

Epilepsy and seizure disorders frequently develop as a result of a traumatic brain injury or a traumatic head injury.  These disorders may develop in the days, weeks or even in the first year following a head or brain injury.

New York University's Department of Epilepsy continues its "EVENING EPILEPSY LECTURE SERIES".  They have requested that I post information concerning their upcoming epilepsy programs.

Monday, April 28th – Dr. Jacqueline French “Side Effects of Anti Epileptic Drugs”
REGISTER NOW!

Monday, May 12th – Dr. Siddartha Nadkarni “Cognitive and Behavioral Problems in Epilepsy”
REGISTER NOW!

All seminars are held at  NYU Medical Center 550 First Avenue, New York, Smilow 1st floor seminar Room at  6:00-7:00pm

Side Effects of Epilepsy Drugs Lecture

The NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center continues its 2008 Evening Epilepsy Series with a lecture entitled "Side Effects of Anti Epileptic Drugs" on Monday April 28, 2008 at the NYU Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, N.Y. Smilor 1st floor seminar room. 

If you have any questions, you can E mail their FACES program.  You can register for this epilepsy program by clicking here.

For more information about the connection between epilepsy and traumatic brain injury, visit the brain injury legal guide web site.

FDA Warning: Epilepsy Drugs May Increase Risk of Suicide

Epilepsy drugs may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, the Food and Drug Administration warned in an alert to doctors.

Very rarely were suicidal thoughts or behavior reported. Still, the FDA found drug-treated patients did face about twice the risk: 0.43% of drug-treated patients experienced suicidal thoughts or behavior, compared with 0.22% of placebo-takers.

The FDA began investigating if epilepsy drugs pose any suicide risk in 2005. It analyzed data from 11 well-known anti-seizure drugs including Pfizer Inc.'s Neurontin, Novartis AG's Tegretol and Abbott Laboratories' Depakote — but the FDA said it expected the risk applied to every epilepsy drug. The FDA said it would work with manufacturers to add the warning to product labels.

Skipping epilepsy medication can result in seizures. An FDA spokeswoman said only that patients should ask a doctor before making medication changes.

But the agency's letter to doctors advised them to:

•Balance the risk with the patients' need for the drug.

•Tell patients and their families about the risk so they can be aware of changes in mood.

•Make sure patients and families know to contact a doctor if someone experiences common suicide warning signs, such as talking or thinking about hurting yourself, becoming preoccupied with death, withdrawal, becoming depressed or worsening depression, and giving away prized possessions.

New Epilepsy Emergency Room Guideline

A new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology recommends immediate brain CT scans to screen certain emergency room patients with seizures. Evidence shows such scans can help doctors select the right treatment option. The guideline is published in the October 30, 2007, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The guideline suggests physicians consider an emergency CT scan in adults and children with a first seizure because evidence shows the results will change how these people are treated in up to 17 percent of adult cases and up to eight percent of cases involving children.

Abnormalities found on CT scans that would lead to a change in treatment include: tumors, traumatic brain injury with skull fracture, and stroke including bleeding in the brain.

You can read more by clicking here.

New York City Epilepsy Conference Scheduled

SAVE-THE-DATE FOR MAJOR CONSUMER EPILEPSY CONFERENCE

FACES (Finding A Cure For Epilepsy) the New York University sponsored epilepsy foundation is sponsoring a Epilepsy Conference on Saturday, October 27th 2007 from 9:00am to 5:00pm at NYU Medical Center.

Featuring Epilepsy 101, Adult, Parent and Spanish Lectures! Admission is FREE!

Lunch will be served and Childcare will be available.

As further details and registration information becomes available, I will post the details on the Brain Injury News and Information Blog.

Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: Is America Meeting Their Needs

I'm still in Washington, DC, scheduled to participate today in a national town hall meeting convened to answer the pressing questions of how to respond to the immediate and long term needs of returning service members suffering from traumatic brain injury.

Some of this issues scheduled to be discussed in this all day program include important issues of how to identify returning vets suffering from brain damage; evaluation of proposed legislation; community reentry including vocational rehabilitation,education reentry and access to transportation.

Scheduled to participate in today's meeting are the leading policy maker's involved in public policy issues surrounding traumatic brain injury including members of Congress, representatives of the Center for Disease Control, members of the military and veteran's affairs as well as the leading groups in this Country that shape the debate regarding brain trauma including the Brain Injury Association of America, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center and state brain injury associations.

I look forward to a lively discussion of the issues especially in light of the conclusions of a separate panel which was part of a day long Washington Defense Forum sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute and the Military Officers Association of America.  The meeting which took place on Tuesday, concluded that the bureaucracies that are supposed to help brain-injured war veterans are too complex for them to navigate.  Specifically, the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense need better coordination of their programs, according to the panel.

Epilepsy Free Children's Event in New York City

FACES (Finding A Cure for Epilepsy), a not for profit organization, administered by the New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Program will be hosting a Game Day on Saturday, September 29, 2007 from 2:00pm - 5:00pm at Chelsea Piers - Field House, West 23rd Street and the Hudson River, New York City

This free event will enable children with epilepsy, their siblings and parents to enjoy exclusive use of the Chelsea Piers Field House.   Families will enjoy soccer, basketball, batting cages, trampoline foam pits, rock climbing, a toddler gym, clowns, magicians, games and more!

To register, click here .

Traumatic Epilepsy Centers Proposed For Returning Vets

U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Larry Craig (R-ID) introduced joint legislation to establish six Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Epilepsy Centers of Excellence across the country.  The bill is designed to with the treatment of post traumatic epilepsy following brain trauma. 

The Murray-Craig bill authorizes $6 million annually for the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence to support clinical, research and education efforts surrounding the incidence of epilepsy among current and future veterans with head and brain injuries.

According to Senator Craig, "Experts have indicated that half of all Vietnam veterans who suffered penetrating brain injuries suffer from what is known as 'post-traumatic epilepsy' many years down the line.  While there is no evidence yet as to the impact of TBI-induced epilepsy from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, this bill will ensure that we are prepared for that possibility,"

At a May hearing, Dr. John Booss, MD,, testified before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee about TBI on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology. 

Booss told the committee that VA-funded research, conducted in collaboration with the Department of Defense, found that 53 percent of veterans who suffered a penetrating TBI in Vietnam developed epilepsy within 15 years.  For these service-connected veterans, the relative risk for developing epilepsy more than 10 to 15 years after their injury was 25 times higher than non-veterans in the same age group.

"Indeed, 15 percent did not manifest epilepsy until five or more years after their combat injury.  As neurologists, we believe that the rate of epilepsy from blast TBI will also be high," Booss said.

The Murray-Craig bill would require the designation of the Epilepsy Centers of Excellence within 120 days after enactment. The locations of the centers would be determined by the VA Secretary, upon recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health based upon a competitive process to assess the scientific and clinical merit of the proposals from VA medical facilities.  The review panel is to be assembled by the VA Director of Neurology and consist of experts in epilepsy, including post-traumatic epilepsy.  The VA Director of Neurology will be responsible for supervising the operation of the Centers and shall provide ongoing evaluation of the Centers.

While I laud the purpose behind this legislative proposal, I would also recommend that those suffering from traumatic epilepsy be permitted to seek treatment in established epilepsy centers that already exist in medical centers throughout the country.  To require veterans to receive this type of care only at established VA centers fails to take into account the expertise that already exists in this area and the proximity that non VA centers may have to where veterans actually reside.

3-D Brain Imaging

Three dimensional (3-d) brain imaging is the latest advance in medical technology to assist neurosurgeons in brain surgery.

The computerized procedure uses interactive 3-D technology to map the human brain and help guide neurological surgeons during epilepsy surgery and procedures to remove malignant brain tumors.

This imaging technology can help surgeons better determine the location of tumors for removal. The 3-D mapping also helps guide surgeons during epilepsy procedures to see exactly where electrodes have been placed in the brain and portions of the brain that may have to be removed to help stop seizures.

The procedure has been implemented at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  which is one of first medical centers in the U.S. to develop and begin using technology.  The software used to power this system is called MediCAD.

DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) images of the brain are integrated and downloaded, using the MediCAD software, onto PCs in the operating room (OR). This allows the surgeons to view almost real-time digital map of a patient’s brain and better perceive brain activity information. MediCAD also allows the surgeons to virtual “slice” the brain into sections, zoom in for close-ups of sections of the brain and even rotate the image in various directions.

Now is this cool, or is this cool?

This new technology will certainly improve the accuracy of neurosurgeons and hopefully will be expanded to other brain surgeries as well.

Camp Scholarships Available for Children With Epilepsy

FACES (Finding A Cure For Epilepsy and Seizures) the wonderful program at New York University, is once again sponsoring scholarships for children affected by epilepsy to a wonderful summer camp experience.

This year FACES will assist 15 children with financial need scholarships towards tuition at one of the camps listed on the Summer Camps page of the FACES website.   Also on that page is a link to the summer camp scholarship application.  The instructions require you to print out the form and follow the instructions.

All applications must be received by June 1, 2007 for consideration.  If you have any questions, you can e-mail the coordinator.

Epilepsy Drug-Depakote Associated With Mental Defects in Children Whose Mother Took Drug While Pregnant

Doctors reported yesterday that expectant mothers with epilepsy who took Depakote, a commonly prescribed drug to control seizures were at increased risk of having a child with mental deficits.

As reported in today's New York Times, toddlers who had been exposed in the womb to the drug Depakote, from Abbott Laboratories, scored seven to eight points lower on I.Q. tests at age 2 than those whose mothers had been taking other epilepsy drugs while pregnant, the study found. They were twice as likely to score in the range associated with mental retardation, according to the authors, who presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston.

The Times article further states that this new study is consistent with several recent studies finding that Depakote is more likely than other so-called anticonvulsant drugs to increase the risk of mental deficits and other birth defects, like neural tube problems. An estimated 24 million American women have taken these drugs — which include Tegretol from Novartis, Lamictal from GlaxoSmithKline and Dilantin from Parke Davis — for an array of problems, including epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraine headaches, according to an analysis by the Epilepsy Foundation.

The drug’s label now states that Depakote “has been associated with birth defects in children of women who have taken it while pregnant.”

Click here to read the full story.

Epilepsy Following Head Trauma Recognized as Significant Risk to Returning Iraq Soldiers

Returning soldiers suffering from head trauma are at an increased risk of developing epilepsy according to speakers at the National Institute of Health conference. 

According to one speaker, Marc Dichter, a professor of neurology and pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania, "Epilepsy is very common following head injury"  He said, "we are concerned that we will have a growing number of young people with head injuries who may develop epilepsy"

According to an article in today's Newsday, Experts: Soldiers with brain injuries could develop epilepsy, the department of defense is funding a study to determine the extent of the problem.  You can read the full epilepsy and head trauma article by clicking here.

National Institute of Health to Convene Special Meeting on Epilepsy

For those interested in epilepsy and seizure disorders, The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is convening a scientific conference to evaluate and explore the latest research on epilepsy.

"Curing Epilepsy 2007: Translating Discoveries Into Therapies” is sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The meeting will include presentations from scientists, academic researchers, physicians, and patient advocates from around the world.
Scientific sessions will cover:
Epilepsy’s effects on the entire patient including mental health and cognitive abilities;
The various causes and progression of the disorder;
New and more powerful diagnostic tests and procedures;
The promise of gene therapy;
The continuing social stigma associated with disorder
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 29, 2007 (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and Friday, March 30, 2007 (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) at Natcher Conference Center, NIH Campus, Bethesda, Maryland.

Epilepsy Programs in New York City

New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and FACES (finding a cure for epilepsy) have announced their 2007 annual Evening Epilepsy Lecture Series for Parents and Adults. Each lecture lasts from 6-7PM. 
Location:    NYU Medical Center, 550 First Avenue (at 32nd Street),Skirball Institute Building - 3rd Floor Seminar Room

The topics and speakers are:
Arthur Grant, MD, PhD - Topic: Memory and Epilepsy: 03/26/2007  6:00 PM 
Katherine Mortati, MD - Topic: Epilepsy - Understanding Your Condition:  04/23/2007  6:00 PM 
Josiane LaJoie, MD - Topic: Epilepsy, Diet and Nutrition: 06/25/2007  6:00 PM
Blanca Vazquez, MD - Topic: Women's Issues and Epilepsy: 09/24/2007  6:00 PM 

Registration information is available by going to the FACES registration form

Battling Epilepsy

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of epilepsy.  The seizures following head trauma can develop days, weeks or even months later.  Frequently, the cause and effect between an accident and the development of a seizure disorder is overlooked.  Seizures can come in many forms from the full blown body convulsions to merely staring into space, eye blinks, to various types of convulsions, waking up in the middle of then night and sleep walking.

Today's New York Times science section contains a very good article on this condition.  Some of the points made by the article include:

• 30% of those suffering from epilepsy have seizures that are not controlled by existing medication.
• More than 2.7 million Americans, half of them children suffer from epilepsy.
• Epilepsy and the medication used to control seizures can cause problems in learning, memory and behavior.
• Epilepsy carriers a stigma and ongoing significant embarrassment.
• Significant new treatments exist for the control of epilepsy including new drugs, surgery and diets.

The most important part of the article however is that persons who suffer from epilepsy and seizures should never give up hope.

You can read the full article by clicking here.

CDC develops new tool kit for parents of teenagers with epilepsy

You Are Not Alone is a toolkit developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) specifically for parents of teens who have epilepsy.

According to the CDC, parents know that the transition from childhood into adulthood often includes emotional, psychological, and social challenges for any teen. But a teen with epilepsy, especially when newly diagnosed, may have additional anxiety and confusion due to epilepsy's complexity and unpredictability. When other people (including teachers, other children, and other parents) do not understand or are afraid of this teen who may appear different, a communication barrier can develop, creating further misunderstanding, isolation, and discouragement. Parents can play an important role in preventing this. When their children with epilepsy become teenagers, they can encourage and assist them in taking responsibility for themselves, while at the same time helping them accept the limitations on their freedom and choices that may be necessitated by the seizure disorder. The materials in this toolkit are designed to support this effort.

The kit includes:
Print Materials
Parent's Letter
Letter describing kit material from a parent of a teen with epilepsy.

Facilitator's Guide
Strategies and suggestions for use of kit materials by facilitators of Support Groups.

Parent's Guide
Strategies and suggestions for use of kit materials by parents.

"Reach Out" Brochure
The stress of parenting a teen with epilepsy affects the whole family, including one's marital relationship and relationships with other children.  This brochure includes tips and strategies on how to keep one's self, one's marriage, and one's relationships with other children healthy.

"Reach Out" Resource Guide
The Resource Guide includes a list of parenting resources as well as family support groups throughout the country and sources of relevant and useful information.

Stationery (PDF – 181K)
A set of preprinted sheets that can be used by parents and professionals to write messages to teachers, neighbors, coaches, employers or other adults who come into contact with their teen.  The information on seizure first aid at the bottom of each page provides an opportunity to educate the reader about the appropriate response to a seizure. Each sheet carries a different parent quote that advocates for the teen and helps to sensitize and educate the reader.

You can read the full epilepsy guide for parents of teenage children by clicking here .

New Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Status Epilepticus in Children

A new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society aims to help physicians diagnose the causes of status epilepticus, a state of continuous seizures, in children, many of whom have epilepsy. The guideline is published in the November 14, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Status epilepticus is the medical term for a seizure, or series of seizures, that lasts more than 30 minutes. It includes two or more continuous seizures if there is not full recovery of consciousness in between. Status epilepticus is a life-threatening emergency that requires hospital evaluation and treatment for control. Status epilepticus annually affects an estimated 31,600 children under the age of 18 in the United States. It is most common in infants and toddlers.

To develop the guideline, the authors reviewed the major available scientific studies on the topic.

The guideline recommends physicians consider anti-epileptic drug (AED) levels when a child with treated epilepsy develops status epilepticus.

“If a child with epilepsy has continuous seizures, it is possible that AED levels are low, because of inadequate dosing, non-compliance or withdrawal of the AED,” said lead author James Riviello, MD, with Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology and Child Neurology Society. “Data show low AED levels in 32 percent of children who develop status epilepticus, but this may not necessarily have caused the status epilepticus.”

The guideline also recommends an EEG, a test of electrical activity of the brain, be considered in a child with status epilepticus. “An EEG may be helpful in determining whether there are generalized or focal abnormalities or when there is suspicion that the continuous seizures are non-epileptic,” said Riviello.

According to the guideline, physicians should also consider infectious, toxicology and metabolic studies in children with status epilepticus when there are clinical indicators for concern or when the initial evaluation doesn’t reveal the cause of the continuous seizures. Neuroimaging may also be considered, after the child with status epilepticus is stabilized, if there are clinical indications or if the cause of the seizures is unknown.

The status epilepticus guideline is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the American Epilepsy Society. A guideline to treat status epilepticus is currently under development by the Epilepsy Foundation of America.

New York Epilepsy Forum

Just a reminder that this Sunday, November 5th, FACES and the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center will be hosting the annual Epilepsy Forum.  The conference will be held at the NYU Medical Center, located at 550 First Avenue at 32nd Street.  If you wish to attend and have not yet registered, you can do so by clicking here .

View the conference program.

Lamictal pregnancy warning issued by FDA

Taking GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Lamictal epilepsy drug during the first three months of pregnancy may increase the chances of having a baby with a cleft lip or palate, according to the Food and Drug Administration

"More research is needed to be sure about this possibly increased chance of cleft lip or cleft palate in babies born to mothers who take Lamictal," the Food and Drug Administration said in a news alert.

Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should not stop taking Lamictal without talking to a doctor, the FDA said. The drug's generic name is lamotrigine.

Earlier this week the drug was approved by the FDA to treat one of the most serious forms of epilepsy, known as "grand mal" seizures, in children aged 2 and older as well as for adults.

Lamictal is already approved as an additional therapy to treat partial seizures and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is also approved as a maintenance therapy for adults with bipolar disorder, or manic depression.

As with all medications for the treatment of epilepsy and seizure disorder, there are serious side effects and complications that require close medical supervision and consultation with your physician.

Epilepsy Drug: Lamictal linked to birth defects

According to published reports in Canada, an anti-epilepsy drug, LAMICTAL has been linked to oral birth defects in babies born to mothers who took the medication.

In a statement issued by the drug's maker,  GlaxoSmithKline, after discussions with Health Canada, company officials say that pregnant women taking Lamictal (lamotrigine) in the first three months of a pregnancy run an increased risk of baby being born with a cleft lip and/or palate.

Oral clefts are among the most common major birth defects, according to GlaxoSmithKline, occurring in one or two of every 1,000 births.

However, the new data suggests eight of 1,000 babies born to users of the drug could have such a birth defect.

Women taking the drug should notify their doctors if they become pregnant or intend to get pregnant while taking Lamictal, company officials say.

Also, stopping or starting the drug should only be done after talking to a doctor, the company officials added.

Epilepsy Comic Book

  Thanks MindHacks for the information on the comic book "Eplipetic".  The comic book charts the impact that the author's brother's epilepsy has had on his life and his families.

Originally written in French, when first published in English, Time Magazine described it as "a great work of art" and nominated it as the best graphic novel of the year.

I have not had an opportunity to read it but at MindHack they write that "it is immediately striking both for its honesty and its dream-like (post seizure-like?) approach, where ideas and experiences fill the panels as real as if they were concrete characters of the plot.  The portrayal of epilepsy is accurate and sensitive, and rivals Ray Robinson's novel Electricity for its impact."

Sounds like I need to figure out how to order a copy.  The ISBN number is   0224079204.  Haven't been able to locate it on amazon yet.

Can Seizure Activity Be Stopped?

If you believe the latest research out of MIT, researchers in their computer lab  claim that they have invented a device which will allow an individual to send a signal to the brain once they detect they are developing a seizure which will stop its progression.

Many individuals are able to sense the onset of a seizure because they have an "aura" a feeling, sensation, day dream or other intrusive thought that always precedes a seizure. By using this device when the patient senses an aura, the seizure may be limited or even prevented from occurring.  This type of device may be just what's needed for patients whose seizures are not controlled by medication.

The results are very preliminary and much more research is necessary. To read more, read the full article in Technology Review.

Choosing the Right Anti-Epileptic Drug For Your Child

The New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy sponsored group known as FACES, Findings A Cure For Epilepsy and Seizures in continuing its evening lecture series with a new program scheduled for Monday, June 12th, FACES at NYU Medical Center – Skirball Building, 3rd Floor Seminar Room from 6pm-7pm.  The evening’s topic will be “Choosing the Right Anti-Epileptic Drug for Your Child,” presented by Dr. Josiane LaJoie.  To attend the lecture, please register by  clicking here .

They will also be testing a live webcast of the lecture with live streaming video available on the Internet from 6pm-7pm by clicking here .  To view the broadcast, your computer will require Real Player.  You can download a free version of the player by clicking here .

On Tuesday, June 13th , FACES will host a parent and adult support group meeting.  The meeting will take place at NYU Medical Center at 550 First Avenue (at 32nd Street) in the Skirball Building’s 2nd Floor Conference room.  The meeting will begin promptly at 6pm and end at 7pm.  Please contact Melissa  with any questions.

Epilepsy Support Group Meeting

I have been asked to forward this announcement from FACES, the wonderful organization based at the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center located in Manhattan, New York.

Next month FACES will be holding a support group session at NYU Medical Center.  The meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 13th from 6pm-7pm in the Skirball Building's 2nd Floor Conference Room.

If you are interested in attending this support group session, please email Melissa Murphy, FACES Research Coordinator, MSW  or contact her via phone at (212) 871-0245 x105.  Please indicate in your email any specific concerns you would like to have discussed, other topics of interest, and your connection to epilepsy. 

Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders in Children: New Review Article

For those interested in epilepsy in children a comprehensive review article has been published in the April issue of Pediatric Clinics of North America ( 2006 Apr;53(2):257-77).    

Seizures are the most common pediatric neurologic disorder.  Four to ten percent of children suffer at least one seizure in the first 16 years of life  with may of these seizures resulting from a traumatic event or accident. Falls and car accidents are leading causes of head injury in children.  The incidence is highest in children less than 3 years of age, with a decreasing frequency in older children. This article describes the types, diagnoses, and management and disposition of this pediatric neurologic disorder.

Teenagers With Epilepsy More Prone To Depression

Teenagers with epilepsy are more prone to depression according to a new study published in the March issue of the journal Neurology. Up to 60 percent of all teens with epilepsy will experience depression or another psychiatric illness, according to this new study.

The study goes on to find that only about 33 percent of those teens will receive treatment.  That lack of treatment may put teens with epilepsy at a higher risk for suicide as well. The study reported that up to 30 percent of people with epilepsy had attempted suicide, compared to about 7 percent of people without the disorder.

Head injury is one of the leading causes of epilepsy and seizure disorders. 

To read a full news report with further information about this study click here .

Brain Functioning In the Period Between Seizures

Last night I  attended a fascinating lecture sponsored by the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center entitled: "The Impact of Epilepsy on Memory and Thinking" which was given by Dr. Arthur C. Grant, M.D. PhD.

Brain functioning during seizures and the period of time between seizures, known as the interictal period is an area receiving a great deal of attention by epilepsy researchers.  It is now realized that epilepsy and seizures impacts on the functions of the brain even during the periods between seizures.

Here is some of the interesting information that I learned last night:

It is no surprise that during a seizure itself, the portions of the brain that are seizing are not functioning properly. In the last several years, what happens to the brain between seizures has been extensively studied.

Frequent complaints especially from those suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy are reports of memory problems in the periods between seizures. Their most common memory complaints are the failure to remember names followed by general short term memory loss and difficulties in attention and concentration.

Epilepsy specialists have studied the EEG tracings of these individuals in the interictal period and have found that they frequently show short spikes, lasting no more then seconds.  These spikes are not considered to be seizures and are instead called Interictal electrical discharges (IED). Careful neuropsychological testing has shown that when these discharges occur, brain function may be affected.   Additionally activities of the brain that are centered in the area of the seizure focus (where the seizure starts) are prone to be affected in this in between period.

It has also been theorized that the metabolism in the area of the brain is also impaired in the brain regions connected to the seizure focus.  This can be seen in PET scans and SPECT scans which are studies of brain metabolism. 

The cognitive impairments that occur during the discharges are called "Transient Cognitive Impairment"  Studies have shown that approximately 50% of patients who experience these interectial discharges will have transient cognitive impairments which will interfere with reading, driving, memory and response times.

The transient impairments that occur correlate with the region of the brain where these intermittent discharge activity takes place.  Thus, it can affect memory, attention, concentration, balance, speaking, sight, etc., if this is that area of the brain where the discharge is taking place.  It is important the remember that these discharges ARE NOT seizures, but it is still abnormal activity involving a small number of brain cells even in individuals who have well controlled seizures.

Unfortunately, these transient discharges are extremely difficult to suppress even with the use of common seizure medications that control seizure activity.  At this time, there is no reliable way of suppressing these discharges.

This information has important implications to brain injury lawyers who attempt to prove cognitive impairments and their causes including traumatically induced epilepsy and seizure disorder in courts of law.  Lawyers who are representing clients suffering from post traumatic epilepsy need to focus their attention on this interictal period and the cognitive dysfunctions that occur. 

Scalp electrodes may not be able to record these discharges since they occur deep within the brain and do not spread to the surface regions which are recorded by typical EEG studies. A patient with temporal lobe epilepsy can have thousands of these discharges that are not recordable in scalp  EEG's but are recordable if electrodes are placed in regions deep within the brain.

More information on this and other seizure disorders can be obtained by going to the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center site.

Watch Epilepsy Surgery on Live Web Broadcast

Temporal lobectomy, a surgical procedure that involves removing parts of the temporal lobe that cause seizures, is offering hope to epilepsy patients who have not been responsive to medical therapy.

A frequent cause of temporal lobe epilepsy is brain trauma.

Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center use electroencephalograms (EEG), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the state-of-the-art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) to pinpoint the exact origin of the disease. Surgeons then remove the scarred tissue to reduce or eliminate the seizures.

On Wednesday March 1 at 5 p.m. neurosurgeon Steven Glazier, M.D. will perform a temporal lobectomy during a live Internet broadcast. The surgery removes a small part of the temporal lobe, part of the brain that extends from the temples to just past the ears.

You can get more information on this live broadcast by going to the Wake Forest University Epilepsy Site.

New York Seizure & Epilepsy Educational Events

New York University Medical Center's comprehensive seizure and epilepsy program has just announced the following programs for its 2006 evening lecture series for parents and adults:

January 23, 2006 at 6 PM at NYU Medical Center
"When is Epilepsy Surgery Appropriate for Children?"

March 27, 2006 at 6 PM a NYU Medical Center
"The impact of epilepsy on memory and thinking"

To register and for more information on these free epilepsy lectures click here .

For information on a two day comprehensive seizure and epilepsy educational program scheduled for March 18 and March 19 at NYU Medical Center, click here .

Pediatric Epilepsy Resource Handbook

In visiting the New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, I have come across a very informative hand book for parents of children suffering from epilepsy and seizure disorders. 

The handbook includes information on national and New York, New Jersey and Connecticut epilepsy resources; summer camp programs, special education information and special schools, information on therapists who specialize in epilepsy and prescription drug information.

The information is published by FACES, which stands for "finding a cure for epilepsy & seizures" FACES can be contacted at   NYUfaces@yahoo.com.  Their web site is www.nyufaces.org

Over the next several weeks when the flow of information is slow, I will post some of the interesting resource links found in the guide.

For starters, the following are national epilepsy resources:

Epilepsy Foundation www.epilepsyfoundation.org (800) 332 1000  A national organization that serves persons with seizure disorders.
The Epilepsy Project: www.Epilepsy.com  Their mission is to impower and inform persons with newly discovered epilepsy conditions and those struggling with the long term issues surrounding epilepsy.
Exceptional Parent: www.exceptionalparent.com (800) EPARENT: provides information, support and ideas to parents and family members of children with disabilities.

My law firm has represented both children and adults whose seizures and epilepsy have been caused by head trauma. You can obtain further information about our law firm at  http://www.brainlaw.com/traumatic_brain_injury.html

Epilepsy and Altered Mental States

ABC Radio's "All in the Mind" has produced a very informative segment which focuses on many of the issues facing persons with epilepsy.  The show provides an interesting discussion on the various types of epilepsy, the aura's associated with seizures, psychiatric conditions associated with epilepsy, treatment of epilepsy and the social stigmas associated with seizure disorders and epilepsy.  Also included is a very good historic background of this condition and its impact upon both literature, the arts and religion. The program is entitled "Epilepsy the Falling Sicknesss".  Click here to lisent to the full audio track and epilepsy pod cast. You can also obtain a transcript of the program. Click here.   Thanks to Mind Hacks for this information.

Annual Epilepsy Scholarships

In this month's EpilepsyUSA, published by the epilepsy foundation, an announcement appears concerning a one year $3,000 scholarship offered by Pfizer Inc. to 16 college bound students.

The Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship recognizes outstanding students who are under a doctor's care for epilepsy, in good academic standing, active in outside activities and plan on attending college as a freshman, sophomore or junior.  Senior college students are also eligible if they've applied to graduate school.  For more information, visit www.epilepsy-scholarship.com or call the Pfizer Epilepsy Scholarship Award Center at (800) 292-7373.

New York Epilepsy Conference

The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York is hosting its annual conference in Albany, New York on Saturday, November 5th at the Holiday Inn, Wolf Road.

The conference entitled "Epilepsy: Strategies For Success In School And Employment" is designed to provide people with epilepsy the knowledge and skills needed for success in school and work.  Sessions include information on developing an effective individualized education plan (IEP), employment issues surrounding epilepsy and stress management.

For more information contact Cindy Elsenback, RN at the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York.

Seizure Response Dogs

Epilepsy patients will now have seizure response dogs available to them through a partnership announced today between Canine Assistants, www.canineassistants.com and UCB Parma Inc. Under the sponsorship, UCB will provide support for the care, training and lifetime vetinary costs of all dogs given to epilepsy patients.  For more information in epilepsy and epilepsy managment can be obtained by viewing ucb's epilepsy web site, www.ucbepilepsy.com .

These seizure response dogs will provide those suffering from epilepsy a change to lead a more normal life by providing constant monitoring and companionship.  The dogs are trained in helping seizure victims safely to the ground and obtaining assistance.  According to the press release, these dogs are able to detect the onset of seizure activity before being apparent to human beings and alert both the individual and others to the impending seizure.

Cannine assistants  is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 trains and provides service dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities or other special needs.  The dogs are trained to respond to over 90 different commands including retrieval of medications, turning on lights, remaining next to seizure victims during the course of the seizure and obtain help. 

For more information on traumatic epilepsy, contact us at mvk.brainlaw@verizon.net and we can send you our guide to Brain Injury and Your Legal Rights which includes information on this condition.

New Epilepsy Treatment Guidelines

There are new guidelines under development for the treatment of status epilepticus (prolonged seizures or a series of repeated seizures) by the Epilepsy Foundation of America in conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society.

These new guidelines will suggest more rapid drug treatment in children who suffer from prolonged seizure activity.  Under older guidelines, drug treatment was recommended if the seizures last more than 10 minutes. The new guidelines will decrease the time period to 5 minutes.  The new guidelines also are recommending that drug therapy be initiated even without testing such as EEG's, MRI's or other studies since they are often negative despite seizures and epilepsy. 

Read more information by clicking here .

Our law firm has handled several cases involving seizures and epilepsy caused by brain trauma or head trauma.  Seizures as a result of trauma may develop, minutes, hours, days or even weeks following that accident. If you were involved in an accident and believe that your epilepsy or seizures were caused by the accident, give us a call toll free at 1 866 BRAINLAW.