All Things Epilepsy by Laura Beretsky

05/26/2026

Anti-seizure medication shortages are an issue in the UK, where patients can’t get their full prescriptions filled. Hopefully the U.S. isn’t next. https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/another-war-impact-medication-supply

04/27/2026

Anybody with drug-resistant epilepsy should check out Epilepsy Sparks interview with Dr. Morcos, who discusses his Brain Surgery Decision Map. More on my Substack:

Neurosurgical technology advances make successful surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy more accessible

03/26/2026

March 26th is Epilepsy Awareness Day, aka Purple Day, a perfect occasion to get the National Plan for Epilepsy Act passed by Congress! Call your legislator now. More on my Substack: https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/happy-purple-day-c43

03/02/2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing every corner of medicine, including epilepsy treatments. Studies show significant AI-use upticks in patients and practitioners and a critical need for provider training on how to use it effectively and safely. More on my latest Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/lberetsky/p/navigating-21st-century-healthcare?r=13f39t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

01/15/2026

Happy New Year! My 2026 new year’s big wish is that the institutions working on advancing epilepsy cures, have access to the resources they need to forward their work. Last month, a Georgetown study showed successful treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy using medications to remove senescent (aging) cells, aka senotherapy. More on my Substack: https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/new-years-wishes-for-epilepsy-research

12/02/2025

This week I’m celebrating my tin anniversary seizure-free. It’s been a good ten years, notable for numerous advancements in epilepsy treatment, including personalized deep brain stimulation, or DBS. Neurologists are investigating DBS as a possible less invasive treatment for those with drug resistant epilepsy. More here: https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/happy-anniversary

11/16/2025

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. You can recognize it in Massachusetts by taking this important action step to bring An Act Relating to Seizure Disorders in Schools, bill H4641 closer to the finish line. Many of you have seen me post about this before. This legislation is closer to passing than ever. Let’s get it to the finish line! More info here: https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/honoring-epilepsy-awareness-month

10/16/2025

Today is Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP Action Day

Here’s an important act for anybody in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts legislature is considering the SUDEP Education Prevention Act. The proposed legislation requires that the Massachusetts Department of Health conduct a statewide campaign to raise public awareness about SUDEP and other epilepsy-related mortalities. The bill also mandates that the Department of Health develop informational resources on SUDEP to share with epilepsy patients, their families and health care providers.

Only 2% of proposed Massachusetts bills get passed into law, but pressure from constituents makes a difference. If you live in Massachusetts, please contact the Joint Committee on Health at [email protected] and ask them to pass the SUDEP Education Prevention Act. Be sure to include the formal title of the bill and the bill number in the subject heading: An Act Relative to Education and Prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy and Other Related Epilepsy Mortalities, HB3961. More on my blog: https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/an-important-act-for-sudep-action

09/30/2025

A recent University of Michigan study of pregnant women with epilepsy shows a surprisingly high number don’t seek neurological care during their pregnancies. Pregnancy is complicated, period. Managing epilepsy while being pregnant adds another level of challenges, which should be monitored by a neurologist. More on my blog:

How epilepsy complicates an already complex transformation

09/09/2025

Massachusetts legislature is considering the Seizure Safe Schools Act. The proposed legislation requires that school staff and families collaborate to develop a doctor-approved seizure action plan for how to respond if a child has a seizure at school. The act requires public schools to have at least one staff member trained to treat a child who has a seizure while at school.

Only 2% of proposed Massachusetts bills get passed into law, but pressure from constituents makes a difference. If you live in Massachusetts, please contact the Joint Committee on Education at [email protected] and ask them to pass the Seizure Safe Schools Act. Be sure to include the formal title of the bill and the bill numbers: An Act Relating to Seizures Disorders in Schools, HB635 and S422. More on my blog: https://lberetsky.substack.com/p/keep-massachusetts-seizure-safe-schools