[Hadassah On Call] Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain

The brain. So complex, it’s often called the final frontier of science.

Are we ever going to really understand it?

“Do we want to fully understand it?” asks guest Dr. Dana Ekstein, head of neurology and co-director of the Epilepsy Unit at the Hadassah Medical Organization. “It will not be so interesting if we understand everything.”

“But yes,” she adds, “we, of course, are very much interested in understanding — probably knowing that we'll never understand the whole thing.”

Dr. Ekstein says that researchers are steadily learning more about neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and Parkinson’s, and developing more effective, targeted treatments.

Think pacemaker for the brain.

In fact, Hadassah will begin using a new type of pacemaker for treating epilepsy, called responsive neurostimulation system (RNS), which is implanted directly into the area of the brain that causes epileptic seizures. RNS will sense when the seizure starts and prevent it from developing. With Hadassah’s implementation, Israel becomes the first country outside of the US to employ this technology. While patients must still take medications today, in 10 or 20 years, as the technology further develops, this pacemaker would be one of the first options for treatment, according to Dr. Eckstein.

Dr. Ekstein has recommendations for how people can protect their brain health today. “You have to exercise your muscles, so you have enough power and strength. You also have to exercise your brain.” Especially people who are retired.

She suggests learning a new language or a new profession.

Tune in to learn more, including the effects of trauma, war and stress, how botanicals can be used for new treatments, AI’s role in neurological care and more.