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/