Elizabeth A. Thiele, M.D., Ph.D., presenting at the Ancestral Health Symposium 2012 (AHS12): "Dietary Therapy: Role in Epilepsy and Beyond."

Abstract

Dietary treatment is probably the oldest treatment for epilepsy. It has an important role even today, as nearly a third of people with epilepsy don't respond to the available anticonvulsant medications.

This presentation will describe the history of diet modification in the treatment of epilepsy, the role of the classic ketogenic diet, and recent modifications that make dietary therapy more tolerable and practical. The role of dietary treatments for other neurological disorders and for cancer will also be considered.

Bio

Dr. Thiele is Director of the Pediatric epilepsy program at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Director of the MGH Center for Dietary Therapy of Epilepsy, and Director of the Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.