In My Own Words

Each day, I walk to the store or ride my bike to the post office in our small town and consider myself lucky. I realize that living and coping with the unpredictable nature of epilepsy pales in comparison to the problems of many other people.

New and Exciting Breakthroughs in Epilepsy Research

This is an exciting time in epilepsy research with the promise of tremendous breakthroughs just over the horizon. In the past, when someone was diagnosed with epilepsy, it was often regarded as an irreversible outcome.

^{By Lisa Boylan, EpilepsyUSA Senior Editor}

Recent Results of Research Supported by Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation provides funding to investigators for targeted research that generates data that can fuel more extensive research projects and results.

Leaders in the Research Fight Against Epilepsy

Spotlight on epilepsy scientists whose research is improving the lives of people with epilepsy.

Epilepsy Foundation Launches a New Research Initiative to Improve Epilepsy Care

The Targeted Research Initiative targets an important need for research to understand how different components of health care affect outcomes in people with epilepsy.

The Over-Excited Brain

A baby’s brain is primed for learning, genetically
programmed to rapidly adapt its “wiring” to the environment around it. This heightened flexibility—called plasticity—during a critical window of early infancy is unmatched at any other time in the lifespan and is a central tenet of brain development.

^{By Brenda Patoine, Special to EPILEPSYUSA} 

Modified Atkins Diet Shown to Cut Epileptic Seizures in Adults

A modified version of a popular high-protein, lowcarbohydrate diet can significantly cut the number of seizures in adults with epilepsy, a study led by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests. The Atkins-like diet, which has shown promise for seizure control in children, may offer a new lifeline for patients when drugs and other treatments fail or cause complications.

One Family’s Commitment to Epilepsy Research

Janet McDermott, whose 21-year-old daughter Shannon
has epilepsy, is actively involved in organizing fundraisers to help fund epilepsy research through the Epilepsy Foundation. She ran a golf tournament for 10 years and a successful dance fundraiser for 7 years.