Research
Internal brain timers linked with motivation and behavior
Time can be measured in many ways: a watch, a sundial, or the body’s natural circadian rhythms. But what about the sexual behavior of a fruit fly? “If you ask a bunch of scientists whether animals can keep time, many would say they cannot, that things happen over time—but time itself is not measured,” says ... Read More about Internal brain timers linked with motivation and behavior
Patient Stories
Giving back: Cole’s ‘Socks for Smiles’
When Cole was 10, he experienced his first seizure. Two years later, he has multiple seizures a day and is treated at the Boston Children’s Hospital Epilepsy Center. In the spring of 2019, Cole and his family were inpatient at the hospital for an electroencephalogram (EEG) to check on his epilepsy. While he was in ... Read More about Giving back: Cole’s ‘Socks for Smiles’
Health and Parenting
Finding ways to give thanks for the gift of life
The holiday season is a time for families to count their blessings. But for Elizabeth Molina-Cordero, the meaning of this time of year — and the gratitude she feels — goes much deeper and lasts throughout the year. Five years ago, her son Julian, who is now 7 years old, received the ultimate gift of life ... Read More about Finding ways to give thanks for the gift of life
Research
Unlocking a treatment for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a highly aggressive and one of the most difficult-to-treat childhood tumors. It’s the second most common malignant brain tumor, as well as the leading cause of brain tumor death among children. “It’s essentially 100 percent fatal,” says Katherine Warren, MD, clinical director for Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and ... Read More about Unlocking a treatment for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
Health and Parenting
Breast reduction surgery improves quality of life for teens
Bigger isn’t always better — especially when it comes to breast size for some young women. Teenagers with excessively large breasts may suffer from back and neck pain, bra strap grooving on their shoulders, and skin irritation under their breasts. They often also have trouble participating in physical activities and finding clothes that properly fit. Yet ... Read More about Breast reduction surgery improves quality of life for teens
Patient Stories
Mary’s journey with genetic epilepsy
Lots of people don’t like the heat. It makes them feel uncomfortable and sluggish. But for Mary, being outside on a hot day means risking a seizure. So can running in gym class or having a fever. That’s because Mary has genetic epilepsy, a form of Dravet syndrome — a rare epilepsy syndrome caused by ... Read More about Mary’s journey with genetic epilepsy
Our Community
Looking toward the future in epilepsy care and treatment
“There’s a revolution happening in epilepsy treatment,” says Dr. Philip Pearl, director of Boston Children’s Hospital Epilepsy Center. Dr. Pearl and other members of the center celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month by sharing what excites them about the future of epilepsy treatment, from targeted therapies to minimally invasive surgeries, and their continued hope for our patients ... Read More about Looking toward the future in epilepsy care and treatment
Health and Parenting
Ski and snowboard safety: Helmet guide
They’re large and they mess up your hair. Nonetheless, more than 80 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2017-2018 season. The rise in helmet use is welcome news for specialists in sports medicine and traumatic brain injury prevention, says Jessie Oldham, a postdoctoral researcher who focuses on sport-related concussion. Oldham recently shared ... Read More about Ski and snowboard safety: Helmet guide
Research
Low enrollment stymies completion of rare disease clinical trials
Rare diseases are anything but rare when taken together. In the United States alone, they affect nearly 30 million people. Yet clinical trials for rare diseases are frequently incomplete or go unpublished in the medical literature, finds a study published today in the journal PLOS Medicine. Analyzing 659 trials, researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital found ... Read More about Low enrollment stymies completion of rare disease clinical trials
Patient Stories
Everli: Living her best life after atlantoaxial instability
When they travelled to the orphanage in China in early 2018, Shannon and Matt Gottschalk knew the toddler they hoped to adopt had Down syndrome. They knew she had been abandoned by the side of a highway and delivered to an orphanage by the farmer who’d found her. The couple was surprised, however, that at ... Read More about Everli: Living her best life after atlantoaxial instability