New Methods Discover "Microlesions" in Epileptic Tissue

Researchers have used a novel technique to discover mircolesions in the brain tissue of epileptic patients, perhaps explaining why seemingly “normal” regions of the brain can produce seizures. Using genetic analysis coupled with mathematical modeling, investigators elucidated clusters of genes that act differently in tissue with high levels of epileptic activity. These genes were then linked to specific cell types, enabling researchers to predict the types of neurons and markers present in epileptic tissues. These predictions were confirmed through histopathology. This novel way to predict cellular abnormalities through the measurement of genetic composition could be a step towards a better understanding and more effective treatment of epilepsy

Read the full article here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25516101

Review of the Embrace Smartwatch

The Embrace smartwatch is a novel tool for the self-management of epilepsy. This watch monitors a multitude of health markers such as sleep patterns, heart rate, and stress level in addition to alerting caregivers at the onset of a seizure. This device can allow for more comprehensive care for patients with epilepsy, possible resulting in better quality of life and fewer seizures.

Read more about Embrace below:

http://backerjack.com/embrace-smartwatch-watches-out-for-epilepsy-other-conditions/

Can Healthy Competition Help Epilepsy?

The Epilepsy Foundation is using competition to promote innovation in treatment for epilepsy. Over 500 internationally based teams competed in two challenges to use crowdsourced data to more accurately predict and detect seizures. The winners were announced in December and are innovators in a variety of fields including mathematics, software engineering, medicine and biostatistics. The Foundation hopes this type of competition will complement traditional approaches to treatment by utilizing shared data and algorithms from the communities outside neurology.

Read more below:

http://www.epilepsy.com/release/2014/12/crowdsourcing-advances-seizure-detection-and-prediction

Smartphone Apps for Epilepsy

The most useful innovations in health technology are often those that can be seamlessly integrated into the everyday life of the patient. Health related apps use the personal smartphone of the patient to improve their quality of life and health outcomes. A recent influx of epilepsy related apps offer a variety of tools promoting disease self-management. These tools range from seizure documentation, seizure recording, information delivery, medication support or direct physician communication. Read more below about some of the newest apps for epilepsy patients:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/epilepsy-ontario/epilepsy-smartphone-app_b_6354926.html

Learn More About Upcoming POEM Study Presentation with Dr. John Hixson

Click on the link below for additional information regarding the November 18th presentation of findings from the POEM Study. Dr. John Hixson will discuss use of social media and health tracking tools among Veterans with epilepsy on MyVeHU www.myvehucampus.com. 

http://www.myvehucampus.com/cdnplayer/15032_social_media_in_managing_chronic_disease_promo_v2/908/512

The Use of Social Media in Managing Chronic Disease - Live at MyVeHU Campus

Listen as Dr. John Hixson discusses the background and results of the recently completed Policy for Optimized Epilepsy Management (POEM) Study. This national study on the use of social media and health tracking tools in Veterans with epilepsy utilized a modified version of the patientslikeme (www.patientslikeme.com) platform to evaluate its effectiveness for improving patient self-management skills. The presentation will cover the background/design of the study, final results, and implications for future development in social media and digital tracking space.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 
10:00 - 11:30 AM Eastern

Visit www.myvehucampus.com and click the ENROLL icon at the bottom of the page

A Mobile Intervention for High-Cost Medicaid Patients

The telecommunications company Verizon has teamed up with a technology start up called Ginger.io to develop and test a mobile health monitoring intervention.  The intervention, coactionHealth, is designed to aide high-utilizer Medicaid beneficiaries whose care is particularly difficult due to co-occurring mental and physical disorders. These patients may experience mental conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in addition physical conditions like heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or diabetes.  The smartphone based intervention included various health tracking applications and an on-call support team including a nurse, therapist and wellness coach.  Users are asked daily survey questions about their wellbeing and certain answers alert members of the support team to possible depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts.

Results from a small pilot study of 10 patients indicate positive outcomes from use of the intervention. All participants avoided hospitalization during the three month study period and all reported increased confidence in managing their disease state. Additional studies are currently in place to further evaluate coactionHealth with larger groups of patients.

Read more here: http://mobihealthnews.com/36664/verizon-ginger-io-pilot-mobile-intervention-for-high-cost-medicaid-patients/

Mobile Apps to Support Epilepsy Patients

Mobile computers, such as smartphones and tablets, provide novel solutions to the delivery of healthcare services. Applications (apps) are specialized programs designed for mobile computing technology and can assist with specific functions in daily life.  Apps can be tailored to serve the health needs of various patient populations.  Adherent Health LLC., a mobile health engagement advisory group is pairing their patient support apps with new medications to treat epilepsy. When used with the medication, and under the guidance of a healthcare professional, these apps are designed to assist in adherence, education and safety with the intention of providing better healthcare outcomes for epilepsy patients.

Read more at: http://www.mhealthnews.com/press-release/new-mobile-apps-support-education-safety-and-adherence-needs-seizure-patients

Epilepsy Foundation 2014 Shark Tank Competition

The Epilepsy Foundation awarded three winners of the 2014 Shark Tank competition for innovation in the treatment and care of epilepsy at the 2014 Epilepsy Pipeline Conference. The winning product was given to Oren Knopfmacher, PhD, for a device to monitor anti-seizure drug levels in saliva. The “Audience Choice” winner, a smartphone app to detect seizures, stemmed from a school science fair project by 13-year-old Amir Helmy.  The competition helps incentivize inventors and entrepreneurs to further the development of products or treatments for managing epilepsy in a meaningful timeframe.

Follow the link to read more about the 2014 winners and finalists:

http://www.epilepsy.com/shark-tank-2014

Veteran's with Epilepsy - The POEM Study

Listen as Dr. John Hixson discusses the Policy for Opitimal Epilepsy Management (POEM) Study, an online self-management program for Veteran's with epilepsy. Results of the POEM study were recently presented at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Click below for the audio link:

http://www.epilepsy.com/hallway_conversations

Epilepsy Patients Help Develop a High-Tech Device to Fight Mental Disorders

Military personnel fighting depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder may have a new treatment option. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is investing $70 million to develop a novel device to address psychiatric disorders. The high-tech implant would have capabilities to both monitor and stimulate specific neural circuits. Researchers at University of California, San Francisco are studying volunteers who currently use brain implants as part of their treatment for epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease. By studying the electrical activity of brain cells in real time, scientists hope to learn how these conditions have changed specific neural circuits and discover clues as to how to “heal” these malfunctioning pathways.

http://www.ideastream.org/news/npr/316129491

Online self-management interventions for chronically ill patients: Cognitive impairment and technology issues

Web based support programs for the personal management of chronic illness have been proven effective however their impact is only realized if patients are able access and utilize these resources. Researchers from McMasters University found that cognitive impairment often co-occurs with chronic illness in addition to age-related increases in multiple chronic illnesses. These factors can lead to lack of technology efficacy and additional obstacles to potentially advantageous Internet-based support.  Accordingly, as healthcare and technology become increasingly integrated, careful attention must be paid to the appropriate design of online applications. See the full article below:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1386505614000185

Wearable Home Seizure Monitor Shows Promise

A new wearable device appears to be accurate in determining the occurrence and frequency of convulsive seizures. Recent testing of the home monitor demonstrates positive results in matching the performance of traditional, hospital-based methods for defining generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC). Designed by researchers at the University of Texas, the lightweight device continuously monitors activity in muscles of the upper arm in order to detect the electrical patterns that characterize GTC seizures.  This type of constant surveillance could reduce the risk of trauma or sudden death associated with the severe GTC seizures by alerting caregivers and allowing for rapid treatment.  While further testing is needed, the current findings show promise for home monitoring that is both easy to use and affordable. Read the full article linked here: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/817700#1

SAMi: New Technology for Epilepsy Patients

Innovative new technologies are changing the practice of health care and treatment of chronic diseases, such as epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation has developed a device, called SAMi, which pairs with a smartphone application to provide active monitoring and detection of seizure occurrences in sleeping patients.  If the nighttime camera in SAMi recognizes sustained, irregular motion, it triggers an alarm on the caretaker’s smartphone. Additionally, all activity is recorded and saved. SAMi has the potential to provide a safer home environment and data to share with a doctor for improved future care.  Follow the link below to the full article:

http://www.medgadget.com/2014/05/sami-night-time-epilepsy-monitor-helps-track-night-time-seizures.html

POEM Study Makes National Headlines

The first results from the POEM study demonstrate measurable improvements in epilepsy self-management among U.S. Veterans. Check out the press release linked below:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-results-presented-from-study-of-us-veterans-using-a-health-data-sharing-network-show-measurable-improvements-in-epilepsy-self-management-257310041.html