Epilepsy February 15, 2007 the World’S Most Common Serious Neurological Disorder
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EPILEPSY FEBRUARY 15, 2007 THE WORLD’S MOST COMMON SERIOUS NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT EPILEPSY, DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE TIMES 2 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT EPILEPSY, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES CONTENTS Epilepsy – an individual condition p. 4 Finally seizure free p. 5 Diagnosis p. 6 Epilepsy in children and young people p. 7 Epilepsy in women p. 8 Living with epilepsy p. 9 Brain imaging & epilepsy p.10 Genetics research p.12 A global perspective p.13 SUDEP p.13 Therapies & treatment options p.14 Helen Hollis – liberated by surgery p.15 Vagus nerve stimulation p.16 Coping with memory loss p.16 Government initiatives p.17 Economic burden p.17 Who looks after your epilepsy? p.18 Welcome to Epilepsy Resources & helplines p.19 Epilepsy is the most common serious disorder that affects the brain. One are likely to have adverse effects or not. The combination of sophisticat- person in 20 will have an epileptic seizure sometime in their life and 50 ed brain imaging and genetic analysis, with the traditional tools of a per 100,000 people develop epilepsy every year. In the UK, this translates detailed clinical history, video recording of seizures and study of the to 450,000 having epilepsy at the present and 30,000 developing it every brain’s electrical rhythms with the electroencephalogram (EEG) are now year. Whilst two thirds of those who develop epilepsy have the condition allowing us to individualise therapy for each person so they have the www.mediaplanetgroup.co.uk controlled with medication, the remainder do not do so well and continue best possible chance of control of their epilepsy without side-effects to have seizures. from treatment. EPILEPSY – A TITLE FROM MEDIAPLANET Our ability to understand the causes of epilepsy has come a long way Epilepsy remains a condition that is serious, common and misunder- in the last decade as result of sophisticated imaging with magnetic reso- stood by many. With the advances in understanding and treatment that Project Manager Christine Lofberg 020 7563 8875, nance imaging (MRI), that visualises not only the structure of the brain are being made, however, the future has never been brighter for those Production Editor Ulrika Fallenius, Editors Margaret in exquisite detail, but also the function of the brain: both normal func- who develop epilepsy. A wider understanding of epilepsy by the public Thomas and Amanda Cleaver, NSE, Design Sophie tions such as language and memory, and abnormal activity that gives at large is also needed to eliminate the stigma that many still feel and Westerberg, Prepress Jez MacBean, Print News International rise to epileptic seizures. These data are vital for planning potentially this report will go a long way towards achieving that goal. For more information about supplements in the daily press, curative surgical treatment for those in whom medications are not suc- please contact Carl-Philip Thunström 020 7563 8877 cessful at controlling their epilepsy. With the mapping of the human genetic code, much current effort is Professor John Duncan Mediaplanet is the leading European publisher in going into understanding how variations in the genetic make-up of Head of the Dept of Clinical providing high quality and in-depth analysis on topical individual people causes them to be at high or low risk of developing and Experimental Epilepsy industry and market issues, in print, online and different types of epileptic seizures. Of even more importance is the Institute of Neurology UCL broadcast. understanding of how individual genetic make-up determines whether Also Medical Director of particular medications are likely to be effective or not, and whether they the National Society for Epilepsy www.mediaplanetonline.com NSE – excellence in epilepsy services The National Society for Epilepsy patients every year. The Sir William share in the research programmes. by evil spirits. are extensive. Training is delivered (NSE) is the UK’s largest epilepsy Gowers Centre, also at Chalfont St NSE is also becoming increasingly Today, the Society’s residential to lay and professional audiences. charity, offering the broadest range Peter, admits around 400 in- involved in research into the genet- and respite care options cater for Information includes a comprehen- of services of any charity working patients every year for a detailed ics of epilepsy, unravelling the DNA adults who are most severely affect- sive range of information leaflets in this field. Services include resi- assessment of their diagnosis and code to discover the causes and ed by their epilepsy, most having covering almost every possible dential, respite and domiciliary treatment. Patients are referred implications of epilepsy with a goal learning disabilities and some also topic, from diagnosis to medication, care; medical services including through the NHS. of developing personalised treat- having physical disabilities. Care seizures types to surgery, living outpatient clinics and inpatient NSE’s research is renowned ments for each individual with the packages are funded by the refer- with epilepsy, coping with memory assessment, diagnosis and treat- throughout the world. Much of the condition. ring local authorities. Care homes loss, complementary therapies, ment; information, support and research centres on the quest to The charity has been providing are primarily located at Chalfont St pregnancy and parenting, educa- training services, including a confi- develop new and improved methods treatment and care for people with Peter in south Buckinghamshire, tion, employment. Specific infor- dential epilepsy helpline. of imaging the brain using magnet- epilepsy for more than 110 years. It but the charity is now seeking to mation packages are available for Working in collaboration with ic resonance imaging techniques. was founded to offer a safe home develop more care services in the people with learning disabilities. the National Hospital for Neurology The charity runs a powerful 3-Tesla and employment to people living community to ensure clients and all Information resources also include and Neurosurgery, part of Universi- MRI scanner, housed at it’s Chalfont with epilepsy in late Victorian Eng- involved can have a choice of care videos and DVDs. ty College London Hospitals Trust, headquarters, which is used for both land, who more often than not were options. This includes an increasing The epilepsy helpline is a caller-led, NSE’s consultants run the largest clinical and research scans. Visiting being confined to asylums in the emphasis on domiciliary care and confidential helpline. It is open each epilepsy outpatient clinics in the researchers come to NSE’s Chalfont mistaken belief that their seizures supported housing. weekday from 10am to 4pm. country seeing more than 3,000 Centre from all over the globe to were a sign of lunacy or possession Information and training services 01494-601 400 4 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT EPILEPSY, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES Emergency An individual care Most people’s seizures follow an individual pattern in how long they condition last and usually stop by themselves. Epilepsy is one of the oldest medical conditions known However, sometimes seizures do not stop by themselves or one seizure to man. Aristotle, Socrates and, later, Julius Caesar, were happens after another without the person recovering in between. This among the earliest great people who are said to have had is called status epilepticus and is a epilepsy. Through the ages the condition has been much medical emergency requiring urgent care and treatment. At misunderstood. diagnosis and review all people with epilepsy should be given information about what to do and who to contact in an emergency In the middle ages theories abounded dering about, fiddling with clothes situation. This should also be cov- that epilepsy is caused by evil spirits, and other objects, sometimes mum- ered in a care plan. and in the Victorian era people with bling or making other noises, chew- epilepsy were often condemned to ing or smacking their lips. The behav- asylums in the mistaken belief that iour will often seem bizarre to others, epilepsy is a mental condition. especially as the individual may react Healthy tips But epilepsy is a physical condition when another person speaks to them that can affect anyone, of any age, – but may not understand or properly ● Take anti-epileptic medication background and race. It may be hear what is being said. People expe- regularly and at the required caused by anything that affects the riencing complex partial seizures may times. brain, including a genetic defect, a often be mistaken for being drunk or ● Check with your doctor or malformation in the development of under the influence of drugs, or they pharmacist before using any other the brain, or may be the result of may find themselves being compro- medication as some treatments physical trauma or an illness such as mised by their actions during the stroke, meningitis or a tumour. In seizure. may interact with anti-epileptic some people there will be no evident Sally Gomersall, a mother of two medication and may cause cause. from Newark, experienced complex seizures to occur. People with epilepsy will have partial seizures for many years before ● Take simple safety precautions to seizures that arise when there is an having successful surgery. She said: “I reduce risk of injury during a abnormal electrical discharge of the would come out of the seizure not seizure. nerve cells in the brain. Whilst many knowing where I was or where I had ● Identify trigger factors such as people will have a single seizure at been, only to see the faces of other tiredness, stress or heavy drinking some time in their life, a person with people looking at me as if I was drunk that may bring on a seizure and epilepsy will have recurrent seizures. or just simply weird.