Fragile X Syndrome
By: Catherine Joachin What is Fragile X Syndrome? Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading form of inherited intellectual disability (Mount Sinai, 2021). It is a hereditary disorder caused by alterations in the FMR1 gene, which produces the fragile X intellectual disabilities protein (FMRP), an important contributor to brain development (CDC, 2022). FMR1 mutations do […]
Cognition and dementia in older patients with epilepsy
By: Lance Fogan, M.D. Lance Fogan, M.D. is Clinical Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His hard-hitting emotional family medical drama, “DINGS, is told from a mother’s point of view. “DINGS” is his first novel. Aside from acclamation on internet bookstore sites, U.S. Report of Books, and the Hollywood […]
Apert Syndrome and Epilepsy
By: Catherine Joachin What is Apert syndrome? Apert syndrome is a congenital disease characterized by craniofacial abnormalities and premature fusions of coronal joints, fingers, and toes (Cleveland Clinic, 2021). This disorder is caused by genetic mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2), a chromosome 10 gene responsible for bone development (Children’s Hospital Colorado, n.d.). […]
Understanding the Relationship Between Obesity and Epilepsy
By: Rebecca Archer Epilepsy, a common neurological disorder, is characterized by repeated seizures, but it rarely stands alone. In fact, more than 50% of individuals with epilepsy are reported to have one or several comorbid conditions. While these comorbidities can have a different pathophysiology compared to epilepsy, they can still affect the treatment and outcomes […]
Williams Syndrome
By: Catherine Joachin What is Williams Syndrome? Williams syndrome, sometimes referred to as Williams-Beuren syndrome, is a genetic disorder brought on by the absence of chromosome number 7 genes, a deletion that occurs during fetal development (Cleveland Clinic). This genetic mutation has been associated with the evolution of various anomalies including narrow blood vessels, high […]
Driving and Epilepsy
By: Clara O’Hara Transportation and Epilepsy In the U.S., 700,000 licensed drivers have epilepsy. For people with epilepsy, taking the wheel means considering the need for independence against the need for safety. However, all states allow some people with epilepsy to drive. Twenty-eight states have laws requiring patients with epilepsy to be free of seizures […]
Transgender Care and Epilepsy
By: Natalie L. Boehm, MBA, RBLP-T What is Transgender? According to the American Psychological Association, transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School, […]
Imposter Syndrome
By: Dr. Sharon Elza Raju What is Imposter Syndrome? Imposter syndrome is a collection of feelings, wherein you are constantly judging your capabilities. It often builds up fear in a person and is stressed about what the other person might think about them. For example, you have a group discussion at your workplace on […]
Dyscalculia and Epilepsy
By: Catherine Joachin What is dyscalculia? Dyscalculia is a severe deficit in the processing of arithmetic and numerical information. It is characterized by difficulty using mathematics in everyday situations such as when handling monetary transactions or measuring items (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). Under the DSM-5 classification, the disorder is categorized as a specific learning disorder alongside […]
Dyspraxia and Epilepsy
By: Catherine Joachin What is Dyspraxia? Dyspraxia, clinically referred to as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a neurodevelopmental movement and coordination problem (Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland). The condition is marked by difficulties in planning out and executing motor tasks (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Poorly executed actions stem from a failure to relay messages to […]