EWCT brings you the latest news on epilepsy-related articles
- Individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease experience epileptic seizures up to six-and-a-half times more often than people without dementia, according to new research reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference(AAIC) 2019 in Los Angeles. Also reported at AAIC 2019, persons with dementia are at higher risk of having recurring seizures and of experiencing seizures for the first time at a younger age, compared to people without dementia.
https://www.alz.org/aaic/releases_2019/monSEIZURES-jul15.asp
You may wish to see this fact sheet also:
https://ewct.org.nz/epilepsy-and-the-elderly/ - Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic medicine used in the treatment of patients with focal, generalised or absence seizures.1In addition, it may be used in the management of some patients with bipolar disorder.
This article has been distributed to primary healthcare professionals, and specialist interest groups in New Zealand (paediatric, neurology and psychology groups), since there are concerns that lamotrigine will no longer be funded by Pharmac after the 1st of October.https://bpac.org.nz/2019/lamotrigine.aspx
For those wishing to buy lamotrigine for personal use after the 1st October, please see the price list here.
- Seizures affect daily lives in hundreds of ways—as well as the lives of their family members, such as parent caregivers and siblings.
The seizures and their consequences affect every aspect of a caregiver’s world: their physical health, emotional health, psychological health, social relationships, education, employment, finances and futures.
https://www.ilae.org/journals/epigraph/epigraph-vol-21-issue-3-summer-2019/epilepsy-s-effects-on-the-family-reducing-and-preventing-stress-and-anxiety - Two families’ experiences with epilepsy: Stress, love, responsibility:
https://www.ilae.org/journals/epigraph/epigraph-vol-21-issue-3-summer-2019/epilepsy-s-effects-on-the-family-reducing-and-preventing-stress-and-anxiety - Becoming seizure-free after years of uncontrolled epilepsy might seem like a dream come true. But most people have problems adjusting to the change – problems that medicine may ignore or minimize.
Sarah Wilson, PhD, explains more about the “burden of normality” that arises after successful epilepsy surgery and how it can disrupt relationships and quality of life.
https://www.ilae.org/journals/epigraph/epigraph-vol-21-issue-3-summer-2019/seizure-free-but-not-trouble-free