Former epilepsy sufferer Charlie Abrahams delivered a powerful and moving speech at the 2008 International Symposium on Dietary Therapy for Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders. The teenager addressed over 300 scientists, neurologists, dieticians and nurses, sharing his inspirational story of overcoming epilepsy using the ketogenic diet.

A discovery by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could hold the key to a new class of epilepsy drug, with fewer side effects and higher levels of seizure control. Researchers are investigating whether the diabetes drug, metformine, may hold the potential as a treatment for epilepsy using the same mechanism as the ketogenic diet.

Scientists have made a ground breaking discovery that could mean new forms of gene therapy for sufferers of childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). This form of the illness accounts for between 10 and 12% of epilepsy in children under 16 and sufferers experience moments of blanking out of consciousness up to 200 times per day. Commonly the seizures stop as the sufferer reaches adulthood.

The Atkins Diet, which is characterised by high fat and protein and low carbohydrate, has millions of followers world wide in their bid to lose weight. Yet a modified version of the diet has also shown great potential to reduce the number and length of seizures in adult and child epilepsy sufferers.

The studies, have been lead by the John Hopkins University of Medicine in Baltimore, and researchers have found that the modified Atkins Diet could provide an alternative for those who find the ketogenic diet too restrictive.

For many seizure sufferers, treating their epilepsy with an Atkins-like diet of high fat and low carbohydrate proves successful with a reduction in frequency and length of seizures. Yet until now it has been unclear as to why this diet proves so successful for many with epilepsy.

Parents Jon and Terry Poling spent eight long years fighting for compensation after their daughter Hannah developed autism following routine childhood vaccinations. In spring 2008 they received news of the decision they had long been waiting for - that the Vaccine Injury Compensation Programme were going to pay compensation.

Five thousand families have lodged a case against the US government claiming their children developed autism after routine childhood immunization as toddlers. They aim to prove that there is in fact an autism vaccine immunization link, with the evidence that their children were functioning and developing perfectly well until they received the injections.

Neurofeedback Therapy is a non-invasive technique which has been shown to improve brain function and reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in epilepsy sufferers.

Many studies have revealed a clear connection between those who graduate from higher education and the chances of securing better job prospects later in life. Continued study after high school is also a great time for personal, social and academic growth for an individual, whether that’s at college, university or trade school.

Researchers have discovered a mutant gene that causes a rare form of epilepsy in women. Known as epilepsy and mental retardation limited to females (EFMR), the condition is characterised by seizures from around the age of one, with the slowing of development and cognitive impairment, in some cases with severe mental retardation.

The mutant gene, known as PCDH19, was found on the X chromosome of female sufferers. Males can also carry the mutant gene on their X chromosome and pass it onto their children, however they do not suffer from the illness.