Ask The Expert - Florida Neuroscience Center Blog

By Dr. Locatelli

A new drug named Banzel™ (rufinamide) has recently been approved as an adjunct treatment for a severe form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). 

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By Dr. Locatelli

For years, doctors have known that when pregnant women took the antiseizure medication valproate, which is the second-most-popular antiseizure medication, their unborn children face an increased risk of developmental delays and major malformations.

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By Dr. Locatelli

Living with the uncertainty of where and when the next seizure might occur is overwhelming. Seeking proper diagnosis and treatment are key to living a quality lifestyle. At Florida Neuroscience Center, we strive to educate the public about new treatments and medications to help benefit those people suffering from seizures. Please take a few minutes to read the newly published cover story, “In the Grip of the Unknown,” that appeared in the April 13, 2009 edition of Newsweek Magazine and was written by Jerry Adler and Eliza Gray.

By Dr. Locatelli

 In the wake of the tragic death of Jett Travolta, many of my patients have come to me with overwhelming concern over their own mortalities. This is a topic that people are uncomfortable talking about but one that is necessary for peace of mind.

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By Dr. Locatelli

This week, we celebrated the epilepsy monitoring unit’s (EMU) one-year anniversary, and we could not be more pleased with its success.  We designed the unit and operate it in conjunction with Holy Cross Hospital. 

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By Eduardo Locatelli, MD

People who experience epileptic seizures usually speak about memory loss. Since seizures create electrical impulses in the brain, the brain function in the affected area can be disrupted or even destroyed. If seizures originate from the temporal lobe of the brain, for example, memory can potentially be affected.  If seizures happen frequently, memory difficulties can happen more often. (more…)

By Eduardo Locatelli, MD

We are learning more and more about how to identify the range of memory impairments associated with epilepsy and link them to specific areas of the brain. This knowledge is helping us to offer better treatments and assist in the rehabilitation of people whose memories have been impaired.

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 According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, surgery to remove a small portion of the brain responsible for causing seizures may help some patients with temporal lobe epilepsy live as much as five years longer than those on anti-seizure drugs.

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By Dr. Locatelli

Years ago, placing an object in someone’s mouth during a seizure was common practice.  The belief was that by holding down the tongue, the responder was saving the person from swallowing his or her tongue.

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By Dr. Locatelli

Misplaced keys.  A forgotten name.  A lost thought.  As we age, these issues create a familiar and worrisome question:  am I losing my memory?

Fortunately, we now know that there are therapies and exercises that you can do to preserve and even improve your memory. 

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