A new international survey has been launched by the UCD Centre for Disability Studies seeking to measure the impact of COVID-19 on individuals who have an intellectual and/or developmental disability.
An updated Patient Information Leaflet has been published for women and girls that are taking Sodium Valproate (Epilim).
A study presented at the European Academy of Neurology annual congress has found that mortality rates for epilepsy-related deaths did not decrease between 2009 and 2015 despite advances in treatment during this time.
The study was conducted by Dr. Gashirai Mbizvo from the University of Edinburgh who analysed anonymous data from healthcare settings around Scotland of patients who had died between 2009 & 2015.
A new study published in the Lancet has identified the world's first environmental risk factor for a common form of childhood epilepsy, Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centro-temporal Spikes (BECTS). BECTS is also known as Benign Rolandic Epilepsy and accounts for about 20% of all childhood epilepsy.
Over the past number of years, our team of Community Resource Officers have worked closely with our colleagues in Helium Arts to highlight their services to families with children with epilepsy.
A new article recently published in the medical journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica has concluded that people with epilepsy should wear a facemask in public insofar as possible in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges for the delivery of healthcare services across the country; it has also highlighted shining lights of our health service and areas which are being heralded as possible game-changers in healthcare delivery in a COVID-19 environment.
As part of the recent activities for World Brain Day - which Epilepsy Ireland supported and participated in - our colleagues in the Neurological Alliance (NAI) launched their three year Strategic Plan.
In recent weeks, we have made calls alongside our colleagues in OACS Ireland for an Independent Inquiry for famiiies affected by Sodium Valproate (Epilim) where the drug was prescribed to women of child-bearing age. The effects of exposure to sodium valproate in utero are well documented, with 30-40% of children exposed to valproate being born with a neurodevelopmental condition and 10% being born with a congenital malformation.
The European Federaton of Neurological Associations have published the findings from their recent international survey on stigma experienced by those living with a neurological condition across Europe.
We recently shared the survey across our social media channels and we would like to thank everyone who took the time to take part.