Click on our Calendar above for upcoming events!
Information for Sinemet Users
There have been some recent announcements regarding Sinemet that our Parkinson's clients should be aware of. Please read about those changes here as well as about Merck Canada's Sinemet Patient Assistance Program.
Save the Date!
Our biennial conference on Parkinson's will take place on Saturday, April 14th and will feature J. Eric Ahlskog, Ph.D., M.D., Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic, and Dr Matthew Farrer, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neirogentics and Translational Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. Watch for information in the new year!
VEPC Seeks New Board Members
Are you someone with epilepsy or Parkinson’s? Are you a friend or family member of someone with epilepsy or Parkinson’s? Do you have skills that could contribute to a nonprofit Board?
The Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre (VEPC) is a vibrant and welcoming non-profit society whose purpose is to strengthen clients’, families’ and communities’ ability to manage the physical, psychological and social effects of Parkinson’s and epilepsy. VEPC is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of people living with epilepsy or Parkinson’s and professionals with an interest in the two disorders. Board members are appointed for an initial one-year term followed by two-year terms. Each Board member is expected to serve on at least one Board committee. The Board of Directors provides overall direction for the organization and is responsible for ensuring VEPC’s programmatic and fiscal health and accountability.
VEPC is currently seeking new Board members. We are particularly interested in individuals with backgrounds in finance, fundraising, and public relations. We are seeking people with strong ties to the local community and an interest in epilepsy and/or Parkinson’s. Board members are typically selected by the current Board of Directors and approved by the General Membership at VEPC’s Annual General Meeting.
If you have knowledge and experience that will assist VEPC as it grows to meet the needs of growing populations of individuals with epilepsy and Parkinson’s in the Victoria Capital Regional District, we encourage you to apply to join VEPC’s Board of Directors by contacting us to request an application.
You can reach VEPC at (250) 475-6677, help@vepc.bc.ca, or visit our website at www.vepc.bc.ca
Follow Us On Twitter!
Epilepsy Facts
Epilepsy is a physical condition caused by sudden brief changes in the electrochemical activity of the brain. When brain cells are not working as they usually do, a person’s consciousness, movements or actions may be changed for a short time. These physical changes are called epileptic seizures.
Seizures are generally classified by whether they involve the entire brain (e.g. Generalized Tonic-Clonic seizures) or a portion of the brain (e.g. Complex partial or Temporal Lobe seizures). The location of the seizure in an individual’s brain will dictate what type of seizure a person will have.
Seizures can be the convulsive kind, or seizures may appear to be nothing more than mere staring, a movement of a part of the body, a sensation, or any combination thereof. In a complex partial seizure, the most common seizure type, a person may appear dazed and confused, mumble, smack their lips, turn their head, repeat gestures automatically, and walk randomly as their consciousness is temporarily impaired by excessive electrical activity in a part of their brain.
Prevalence: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, occurring in about 300,000 Canadians, or more than one percent of the population. Each year, one person in 2,000 is diagnosed with epilepsy. In greater Victoria, approximately 3500 people have epilepsy.
Age of Onset: Epilepsy most often develops in childhood: 55% of patients are diagnosed before the age of 10. Nevertheless, anyone can develop epilepsy at any age. Epilepsy is also increasingly seen in the elderly.
Causes: In the majority of cases, the exact cause is unknown. Among know causes are brain tumour, stroke, head injury, infectious diseases like meningitis, encephalitis, measles and others, brain injury during fetal development or delivery, and poisoning due to substance abuse or lead. Heredity, or a genetic factor, is assumed to be greater when no specific cause can be identified.
Treatment: Modern medical treatment can achieve full or partial control of seizures in about 80% of cases. Most people with epilepsy take medications to control their seizures.
