Epilepsy Statistics in the US

Warren B. Lammert is the founder, chief investment officer, and portfolio manager of Granite Point Capital in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as the chairman of Aurora, Colorado’s Cerebral Therapeutics. Warren Lammert also draws on his extensive knowledge of epilepsy from a variety of roles such as a former member of the board of directors with the Epilepsy Foundation, co-founder of Epilepsy.com and more recently, as member of the board of directors with FACES (Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures at NYU).

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that, without medical intervention, can lead to recurrent seizures that impact various parts of the brain. Epilepsy is a relatively common condition in the United States.

Research indicates that an estimated 1.2 percent of Americans live with an active epileptic disorder. This translates to 3.4 million individuals throughout the country, in addition to more than 65 million people around the world living with the condition. Roughly one in 26 people will experience epilepsy at some point in their lives, and the first seizure can come at any time. Medical professionals have diagnosed infants under the age of 2 with epilepsy, while others can live over 65 years before their first seizure.

In America, approximately 470,000 of the more than 3 million epilepsy cases involve children. Between 30 and 40 percent of children living with epilepsy have the disease but do not experience seizures. One in five children live with an intellectual disability, while as many as 50 percent have a specific learning disability. Only a small number of American children with epilepsy experience severe neurological conditions like cerebral palsy.

Epilepsy and Epileptic Seizures

Warren B. Lammert has served as portfolio manager and chief investment officer of Granite Point Capital since founding the Boston, Massachusetts, company in 2004. Warren Lammert also serves as a board member with FACES (Finding a Cure to Epilepsy and Seizures at NYU). He has led and been involved with organizations dealing with epilepsy since founding Epilepsy.com in 2001.

Epilepsy is a long-term, fairly common brain condition that manifests as sudden surges of electricity in the brain. These electrical bursts cause people to experience seizures. Different types of epilepsy lead to different types of seizures, which can impact the brain in various ways.

For example, generalized epilepsy results in generalized seizures. Not all generalized seizures are motor (that is, involving physical movements). That said, sudden muscle twitches, spasms, and other erratic movements can accompany generalized seizures. Non-motor generalized seizures, on the other hand, feature little movement beyond minor twitches and fluttering eyelids.

By comparison, people living with focal epilepsy experience focal seizures, which begin as a slightly nauseous feeling in the stomach. As symptoms progress, they can take the form of motor and non-motor seizures, though the seizures differ from those observed in people living with generalized epilepsy. Focal motor seizures sometimes consist of repeated movements, such as chewing or clapping, while symptoms of focal non-motor seizures range from waves of heat and cold throughout the body to a sudden change in emotions and thoughts.

Other individuals may live with combined generalized and focal epilepsy, or even unknown forms of epilepsy. Unsurprisingly, the latter can result in symptoms known as unknown seizures.

Seattle Children’s Hospital Targets Protein Involved in Epilepsy

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An experienced finance executive, Warren Lammert is the CEO of Granite Point Capital in Boston, a hedge fund which manages more than $250 million in assets. His daughter was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome as a baby, which inspired him to cofound Epilepsy.com and the Epilepsy Therapy Project in the early 2000s. The Epilepsy Therapy Project subsequently merged with the Epilepsy Foundation, of which Warren Lammert is a former chairman.

In a new development in epilepsy treatment, a team based at Seattle Children’s Hospital announced the potentially life-changing effects of their experimental work targeting mTOR, a protein pathway that becomes overactive in people with the condition.

The researchers focused on altering the protein's behavior in the bodies of young people diagnosed with refractory, or treatment-resistant, epilepsy. Early results reported in 2019 showed that patients who received an initial form of this treatment displayed a noticeable improvement in symptoms.

Those who participated in a phase 1 trial received three weekly infusions of Nab-rapamycin (ABI-009), which physicians believed would block the mTOR pathway and lead to a decrease in symptoms. Nab-rapamycin is a drug developed by Aadi Bioscience.

The Purple Camp Makes Summer Fun for Kids Living with Epilepsy

Human nerves
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Granite Point Capital founder and CEO Warren Lammert is a strong supporter of organizations that assist people with epilepsy. The parent of a young woman who was diagnosed with a rare form of the condition as an infant, he has established nonprofits and research groups that investigate the causes of epilepsy and pioneer innovative treatments. These include the Epilepsy Therapy Project and Epilepsy.com, both which have since been folded into the Epilepsy Foundation, of which Warren Lammert is an immediate past chairman.

The Epilepsy Foundation’s numerous chapters educate, raise funds, and advocate at the local level, as well as operate programs and activities that cater to the particular needs of children with epilepsy and their families. The Epilepsy Foundation New England’s initiatives include The Purple Camp.

At the week-long sleepaway camp, children with epilepsy can enjoy their summers simply being kids. It provides a nurturing environment, designed with consideration for the health and safety needs of young people with epilepsy, where campers can go kayaking or boating, practice archery skills, scale climbing towers, and express their creativity through arts and theater projects.

The network of local camps that belong to The Purple Camp project also employ a staff of nurses and an on-call neurologist to ensure that campers have access to needed medical support throughout their stay.

November Marks National Epilepsy Awareness Month

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Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Having accumulated decades of experience in managing hedge funds, Warren Lammert now oversees some $250 million in assets under management at Granite Point Capital in Boston. The father of a daughter diagnosed in infancy with a devastating form of epilepsy, Warren Lammert is also known as a philanthropist who supports the Epilepsy Foundation and multiple other nonprofits committed to not only searching for innovative treatments, but also offering networking and support to families.

The Epilepsy Foundation notes that the disease is the fourth most common neurological disorder known to physicians, affecting approximately 3.4 million people in the United States alone. And every year, some 150,000 individuals are diagnosed with the condition for the first time.

In fact, the experts working with the foundation estimate that 1 out of every 26 Americans will develop epilepsy over the course of their lives.

Characterized by the sudden onset of neurological seizures prompted by changes in the brain’s electrical activity, epilepsy can affect different parts of the brain and body in different people. Epileptic seizures also vary in frequency and severity.

Worldwide, more than 60 million people have received a diagnosis of epilepsy. But for more than half of these individuals, the causes of their epilepsy are as yet undiagnosed.

For all these reasons, the Epilepsy Foundation continues its efforts to raise funds, support groundbreaking research, and help people connect with resources.

Sleeping Recommendations for People with Epilepsy

Financial services professional Warren Lammert serves as the CEO and chief investment officer of Boston-based Granite Point Capital, which he founded in 2004. Additionally, Warren Lammert is a dedicated philanthropist who serves on the boards of a variety of companies and nonprofit organizations that aim to advance epilepsy research.

Crucial to improving overall health and wellness among all people, sleep is particularly important for those living with epilepsy. Seizures are sensitive to sleep patterns, and a lack of good, regular sleep can trigger an increase in the frequency, intensity, and length of seizures. Some forms of epilepsy, such as autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy and benign rolandic epilepsy, are especially tied to sleeping patterns, as they generally involve seizures that occur at night. These types of epilepsy, in particular, can make it even harder to get a good night’s sleep and feel well-rested in the morning, which can result in worse seizures.

The Epilepsy Foundation recommends not only maintaining a realistic bedtime schedule, but also turning off all electronic devices at least an hour before going to sleep. Doing so ensures the proper production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone that is also produced by exposure to sunlight. Other things to consider to ensure that you receive the proper amount of sleep at night include exercising regularly, taking a warm shower before bed, and limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption at night.