Neurratives - A Podcast about Neuroscience in Fiction

Episode 7 - First Do No Harm | A Creamy Cure for Epilepsy


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What is 21-time Oscar nominee and 3-time winner Meryl Streep doing in a network TV movie? Why, promoting pediatric epilepsy awareness, of course! Join Nick and Stephen in their discussion of 1997's made-for-television movie 'First Do No Harm', inspired by director Jim Abrahams' experiences with seeking treatment for his son Charlie's medically intractable epilepsy. We'll take a look at the ketogenic diet that the movie advocates - can you treat pediatric epilepsy by chugging heavy cream and chewing sticks of butter? Tune in to learn more!


More reading about the ketogenic diet for pediatric epilepsy:
Freeman JM, Vining EP, Pillas DJ, Pyzik PL, Casey JC, Kelly LM. The  efficacy of the ketogenic diet-1998: a prospective evaluation of  intervention in 150 children. Pediatrics. 1998 Dec;102(6):1358-63. doi:  10.1542/peds.102.6.1358. PMID: 9832569.

Freeman JM, Kossoff EH, Hartman AL. The  ketogenic diet: one decade later. Pediatrics. 2007 Mar;119(3):535-43.  doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-2447. PMID: 17332207.

The Charlie Foundation website:
https://charliefoundation.org/

Music: 'Blippy Trance' - Kevin MacLeod

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Neurratives - A Podcast about Neuroscience in FictionBy Stephen Hou