News

A meta-analysis of studies regarding epilepsy surgery has concluded that the earlier surgical intervention takes place, the more chance a person has of becoming seizure- free.

The analysis was conducted by researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg in conjunction with the Swedish Council for Assessment of Health Technology.

Their findings were recently published in the renowned journal, Neurology, from the American Academy of Neurology.

New research from the Korea Brain Institute has identified the structure and mechanism of a membrane protein which can cause epilepsy.

Membrane proteins are the gatekeepers to the cell and are essential to the function of all cells. They control the flow of information or messages between cells.

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced that it would not recommend Epidyolex (cannabidiol) combined with clobazam (Frisium) for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

New research from the Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has found that young children with epilepsy caused by genetic abnormality had a better response to the ketogenic diet compared to children with other types of epilepsy.

The ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate, high fat diet that is used to treat epilepsy which has not responded to other treatments. More information on this can be found here.

Two reports recently published in the UK regarding the use of cannabis based products for a number of medical conditions have pointed to the need for further clinical evidence & research regarding their use to treat severe treatment-resistant epilepsy.

A worldwide study has identified genetic links between severe forms of epilepsy and less severe forms. “Ultra-Rare Genetic Variation in the Epilepsies: A Whole-Exome Sequencing Study of 17,606 Individuals” was published last week in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

The Human Medicines Committee of the European Medicines Agency have recently granted a positive opinion regarding the use of cannabidiol (CBD) based drug Epidyolex (spelled as Epidiolex in the US) in two forms of epilepsy.

As part of their July meeting, the committee recommended marketing approval for the drug in Lennox Gastaut & Dravet Syndromes in patients over two years old who are already prescribed Clobazam (Frisium).

It has been confirmed that the death of Disney actor Cameron Boyce in July was a result of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

The cause of death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Coroner last week. The actor, aged 20, had amassed thousands of fans from his roles in Descendants and Jessie.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is rare. About one in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP per year.

A new study published in the online issue of the journal Neurology last week has provided much needed information on the circumstances of SUDEP and has shed new light on risk factors for SUDEP.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has signed legislation which will allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.

The Programme will allow for access to cannabis-based products for medical use in line with the legislation.