Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain - Sponsored Content

Tune in for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Dana Ekstein, head of the Department of Neurology and co-director of the Epilepsy Unit at the Hadassah Hospitals, exploring the human brain, the latest advances in epilepsy treatment and what these advances mean in practice.

“The brain is what really defines us. It’s like studying ourselves, studying the existence of a human being.”

That is how Dr. Dana Ekstein, head of the Department of Neurology and co-director of the Epilepsy Unit at the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), describes the fascination of studying the human brain.

Despite decades of research and advances in medical technology, the brain remains one of the body's greatest mysteries. Scientists are still working to understand what causes diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, how our brains respond to trauma and whether neurological diseases can one day be prevented or reversed.

In this episode of Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine, host Maayan Hoffman speaks with Dr. Ekstein about the complexities of the human brain and the latest developments in neurology.

“I think we nowadays know more and more about the brain,” Dr. Ekstein says. “Little by little, we start to know more and more about the way the brain functions.”

The conversation explores how lifestyle affects brain health, including the importance of exercise, diet and learning new skills. Dr. Ekstein also discusses HMO research showing that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experienced increased disease activity during the first year of the Israel-Hamas war, raising questions about how prolonged stress affects the brain. The episode also examines promising treatments for epilepsy, including a new brain pacemaker that can detect abnormal electrical activity and prevent seizures from developing.

“Hadassah has led the process of bringing brain technology to Israel,” Dr. Ekstein says.

Further Learning:

• Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine | S2 E5 — Parkinson's Disease: Surprising New Treatments and The Race For a Cure
• Hadassah President Convenes "Women Talking Medicine"

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Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine is a production of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah enhances the health of people around the world through medical education, care and research innovations at the Hadassah Medical Organization. For more information on the latest advances in medicine, please head over to hadassah.org.

This episode includes promotion for Hadassah Lifechanging

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About our guest(s)

Dr. Dana Ekstein is chair of the Department of Neurology at the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), a position she's held since 2019, and founder and head of HMO’s Epilepsy Unit, established in 2010. After earning an MD from the Hadassah-Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ekstein completed a residency in neurology at Hadassah hospitals and a PhD in neurobiology at the Hadassah-Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she is currently a professor of neurology. Dr. Ekstein subsequently completed a clinical and research fellowship in epileptology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston. As a clinician and researcher, Dr. Ekstein specializes in epilepsy, with a particular focus on advancing treatment approaches, improving patient outcomes and investigating the biological mechanisms underlying the condition.

Dr. Ekstein is actively involved in national and international epilepsy research, professional leadership and medical education. A former president of the Israeli chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy, Dr. Ekstein helped establish and secure approval for Israel’s epileptology fellowship program in 2020. Dr. Ekstein has served on the Israeli Neurological Association’s Health Basket Committee and has led and collaborated on numerous research grants and multicenter clinical trials investigating innovative epilepsy treatments, seizure management and potential therapeutic targets. Through clinical leadership, academic research and professional service, Dr. Ekstein remains committed to advancing epilepsy care and improving the lives of people living with neurological disorders.