This month in epilepsy news, video games and virtual reality are used in a study to control seizures, an epileptic football player is inducted into the NFL hall of fame, 3D heat-map technology allows doctors to pinpoint locations of seizure activity in the brain, researchers develop a way to monitor epilepsy treatments without drawing blood, and a teenager’s brain surgery stops her seizures for good!
Study to determine if virtual reality and video games can aid in seizure control
The Dell Medical School at the University of Texas began a three-year-long study that will revolve around using video games and virtual reality to control epileptic seizures. Using the concept of neuroplasticity, the fact that brains can create new neuro pathways after an injury, the study aims to determine if technology can help the brain develop new pathways before the injury even occurs.
NFL player and epilepsy advocate Alan Faneca inducted into football hall of fame
Alan Faneca, a professional football player for the NFL for 13 seasons and an advocate for epilepsy, was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Faneca played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals. He was also diagnosed with epilepsy at the young age of 15.
3D heat-map animations help doctors pinpoint seizure activity in brain
Technology at UC San Francisco’s Department of Neurology has allowed doctors to create a heat-map animation of how seizures spread in their patients’ brains. After implanting electrodes that monitor brainwaves 24/7, the heat-map shows doctors what areas of the brain are triggering the seizures. From there, they can potentially operate and remove the bad brain tissue.
Researchers develop breath test to measure pediatric epilepsy treatment
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a way to measure the success of epilepsy treatments in pediatric patients without having to draw blood: breath tests. They work the same way as breathalyzer tests. The patient simply breathes into the machine and it will analyze a variety of factors including medication and dosage. The need for this testing is in large demand in pediatrics as young patients’ metabolisms are always changing and doctors are always needing to adjust their therapies.
Teen undergoes brain surgery to get rid of seizures for good
17-year-old Jamie Van Cleave lived with drug-resistant epilepsy for over 10 years. She tried over 100 medications and even experienced as many as 50 seizures in one week. But this past June, Jamie became a candidate for brain surgery after discovering the cause of her seizures was dysplasia, abnormal development of the cells within tissues. Since her surgery to remove the abnormal cells, she has not had a single seizure!
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