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In this episode, Sonal Bhatia, MD, FACNS, epilepsy expert and director of the pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) at the Medical University of South Carolina, discussed Purple Day, celebrated on March 25th, and the importance of raising awareness for patients with epilepsy, a common condition affecting one in 26 individuals. She discussed the stigma faced by patients with epilepsy, especially in parts of the world outside the United States. Bhatia also discussed some of the recent advances in epilepsy care in the past decade, highlighting areas like improved surgical approaches, dietary therapies, and the potential of gene therapy for various disorders. In addition, she discussed changes in elderly epilepsy care, as well as the importance of transitioning care from pediatrics to adults and the need for a longitudinal model of care. Furthermore, she spoke on epilepsy monitoring units, the challenges institutions face, and the critical need for EEG technology and for more EEG technologists and nursing school graduates. 

Episode Breakdown:

1:10 – Significance of Purple Day, raising awareness on epilepsy stigma

5:00 – Advances in epilepsy care, including availability of more anti-seizure medications and genetic insights

8:45 – Neurology News Minute

11:10 – Challenges in elderly epilepsy care and the need for more standardized transition models from pediatrics to adulthood

15:20 – Optimizing epilepsy monitoring units and dealing with staff and equipment shortages

20:50 – Closing thoughts

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

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