Sudden Death Can Occur Even in Well-Controlled Epilepsy

WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2019 -- Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy is rare and thought to mainly affect people with hard-to-treat seizures, but a new study suggests that even people with well-controlled epilepsy may be at risk.

That was especially true if someone had missed their last dose of medication or was sleep-deprived, the researchers found. Drinking too much alcohol was also implicated in some of the sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) cases they studied.

Do You Have the 'Fainting Gene'?

TUESDAY, May 28, 2019 -- Some folks are more prone to fainting than others, and the reason might lie in their DNA.

Danish researchers who analyzed millions of gene variants in DNA of 400,000 people have zeroed in on a gene that increases a person's risk for fainting.

FDA Approves First Drug to Help Tame Cluster Headaches

WEDNESDAY, June 5, 2019 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave the nod to Emgality, an injected medication that's the first to cut the frequency of cluster headaches.

Episodic cluster headaches are "an extremely painful and often debilitating condition," the FDA's Dr. Eric Bastings noted in an agency news release. He's deputy director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Sudoku, Crosswords Could Make Your Brain Years Younger

THURSDAY, May 16, 2019 -- Mornings spent figuring out Sudoku or finessing a crossword could spell better health for aging brains, researchers say.

In a study of over 19,000 British adults aged 50 and over who were tracked for 25 years, the habit of doing word or number puzzles seemed to help keep minds nimble over time.

New Treatment Guideline Focuses on Tourette Syndrome

WEDNESDAY, May 8, 2019 -- Tourette syndrome can be a nerve-wracking condition, but there are effective treatments for sufferers, a new American Academy of Neurology guideline says.

Tourette is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and causes involuntary vocalizations and repetitive movements known as tics.

More Evidence CBD Can Help Ease a Form of Epilepsy in Kids

TUESDAY, April 30, 2019 -- There's new data supporting the use of Epidiolex -- the first cannabidiol (CBD) medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- to help curb a form of epilepsy.

The research found that the drug reduced seizures by nearly half in children with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of the neurological disorder.