Rita Yadava,M.D.

Neurology Health Bulletin #5

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month

This November, for National Epilepsy Awareness Month, the Epilepsy Foundation is asking you to Talk About It!

National Epilepsy Awareness Month will focus on the power of personal stories and encourage communities of all sizes to talk about epilepsy together. In 1969, November was declared National Epilepsy Awareness Month as a part of a nationwide epilepsy public education campaign. In 2003, the U.S. Congress passed a formal resolution declaring November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month.

“We’re encouraging everyone affected by seizures to share some aspect of their story during National Epilepsy Awareness Month,” said Eric R. Hargis, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. “Talking about epilepsy will empower those impacted by the condition to speak out without shame.”

Visit the Talk About It Website for tools to help get the word out about epilepsy and encourage people to Talk About It!.

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month

There are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and as many as 10 million family caregivers. This November, during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is providing insight and support to those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s a new resource, Comfort Zone™

Alzheimer's Association Comfort Zone™

Alzheimer's Association Comfort Zone™ is a new Web-based GPS location management service that uses the Internet and a device to track the location of a person with dementia.

New Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: Extavia

Extavia (interferon beta-1b) was approved in August by the U.S. FDA to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Extavia was approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Relapsing forms of MS include individuals with secondary-progressive MS who continue to experience relapses or acute attacks. Extavia was also approved for use in individuals who have experienced a first clinical episode (clinically-isolated syndrome) and have MRI features that are consistent with multiple sclerosis.

Interferon is the active ingredient in several other brands of MS medications, including Betaseron (interferon beta-1b), and Avonex and Rebif (betaseron beta-1a).

Extavia is injected subcutaneously every other day.

Learn more about Extavia from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Football Concussions Warrant More Study

Recent publications have focused on the the risk of cognitive impairment and premature dementia developing in football players that have undergone repetitive concussions, including articles in USA Today and the New Yorker ("Offensive Play" by Malcolm Gladwell)

It is estimated that up to 1 of every 10 high school football players has a concussion each year. In 2005, a  study of retired pro players found that having three or more concussions was associated with a heightened risk of mild cognitive impairment after age 50.

High school players who have three or more concussions during his high school years could also be predisposed to some of these same long-term neurodegenerative conditions as NFL players.

Studies are being performed to better gauge the risk to football players.

In the meantime, players, coaches and parents must learn to recognize the symptoms of a concussion, and be ready to pull affected players out of competition until a health professional clears them to play again. Players should not return to action until their brains heal, because it's dangerous to get a second concussion when the brain is still recovering from the first one.

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This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns.

Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.