It has been a month since my last post. I apologize. I have been hunkered down writing my PhD thesis, which I handed in today. It is soon time to go back into hiding to study for my thesis defense- which takes place in a month's time.
CURE This is a quick post, but I just wanted to pass along some information on
CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy). CURE is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting those who are trying to cure epilepsy. They raise funds for research and work to increase awareness of the disorder.
I met the president of CURE at a conference in Arizona. They are really doing great work. Check out their website (link above) to learn more about epilepsy and what is being done to cure the disorder.
KETOGENIC DIET NEWS Changing gears a bit -- a recent paper by Dr. Helen Cross's lab in the U.K. just came out in Lancet Neurology. It is the first paper to use a randomized control trial on the ketogenic diet. This is very exciting news for those of us who are firm believers in the clinical efficacy of the ketogenic diet, and having to listen to nay-sayers that there is no solid, clinical proof.
The results of the study show that about 1/2 of the patients had a greater than 50% reduction in their seizures on the diet. About 10% had a greater than 90% reduction in their seizure frequency. These numbers are very similar to those commonly cited in the literature. This may not seem "amazing" -- but keep in mind that these reductions in seizure frequency are happening in people that have already failed drug therapies.
Anyway, a bit of a mixed bag there.
I hope you are all doing well.
Thank you for continuing to read my blog. My posts will be sporadic over the next few months as I finish up my thesis --- but eventually I'll get around to posting more regularly.
Kirk.
CURE
This is a quick post, but I just wanted to pass along some information on CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy). CURE is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to supporting those who are trying to cure epilepsy. They raise funds for research and work to increase awareness of the disorder.
I met the president of CURE at a conference in Arizona. They are really doing great work. Check out their website (link above) to learn more about epilepsy and what is being done to cure the disorder.
KETOGENIC DIET NEWS
Changing gears a bit -- a recent paper by Dr. Helen Cross's lab in the U.K. just came out in Lancet Neurology. It is the first paper to use a randomized control trial on the ketogenic diet. This is very exciting news for those of us who are firm believers in the clinical efficacy of the ketogenic diet, and having to listen to nay-sayers that there is no solid, clinical proof.
The results of the study show that about 1/2 of the patients had a greater than 50% reduction in their seizures on the diet. About 10% had a greater than 90% reduction in their seizure frequency. These numbers are very similar to those commonly cited in the literature. This may not seem "amazing" -- but keep in mind that these reductions in seizure frequency are happening in people that have already failed drug therapies.
Anyway, a bit of a mixed bag there.
I hope you are all doing well.
Thank you for continuing to read my blog. My posts will be sporadic over the next few months as I finish up my thesis --- but eventually I'll get around to posting more regularly.
Kirk.