Health
The 9 most common questions women over 40 ask their doctors, according to a menopause expert
Staying healthy as a woman over age 40 starts with asking the right questions, doctors say.
Females in this age group face new health challenges and can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of the traditional health care system, according to Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a family medicine physician and menopause practitioner at Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio.
As menopause is often viewed as a “taboo topic,” Fiffick — also a clinical fellow at Cleveland Clinic — is working to empower this group of women to take control of their health proactively.
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“To do that, they need to ask their doctors the right potentially life-saving questions,” she said.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Fiffick shared the top 9 questions women should be asking — along with her answers.
Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a family medicine physician and menopause practitioner at Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio (left), revealed the most common questions she hears from her patients. (Dr. Alexa Fiffick/iStock)
1. ‘Am I at risk for heart disease?’
Women have a 50% greater chance of having a misdiagnosed heart attack than men, data shows.
It wasn’t until 2020 that the American Heart Association identified menopause as an individual risk factor for heart disease.
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“This giant, stressful health event wasn’t taken seriously for a long time,” Fiffick said.
“Finally, the science supports that menopause is a risk factor for heart disease. Women absolutely must ask their doctors about their individual risks based on this information, coupled with their medical history.”
2. ‘What types of exercise will keep my heart and brain healthy?’
For adults up to 65 years of age, experts recommend getting 150 minutes per week of exercise, combining moderate-to-vigorous aerobic workouts and strength training sessions.
For women in their 40s, lifting weights becomes particularly important, according to Fiffick.
For adults up to 65 years of age, experts recommend getting 150 minutes per week of exercise, combining moderate-to-vigorous aerobic workouts and strength training sessions. (iStock)
“There is a lot of emerging evidence of the benefits of weightlifting — especially lifting weights that are considered heavy,” she said.
“It’s been difficult for this age group in the past to lift heavier, because we were all raised to think that weightlifting builds a more masculine structure,” she said.
“But it’s really important for bone health and to prevent falls — and it also helps the brain stay cognizant of changes, which can be really helpful to stave off dementia.”
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When choosing a weight, it should be heavy enough that it can’t be lifted repetitively with ease.
“It should be a challenge to do the motions with the weight, so you can continue to keep challenging yourself,” Fiffick said.
“That sort of heavy weightlifting is associated with maintaining bone density.”
“Weight loss is more about your food consumption and less about cardiovascular exercise.”
Cardiovascular exercise is also important for keeping the heart healthy, Fiffick said.
“People tend to think of cardio for weight loss because that’s what we used to teach in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s — but realistically, weight loss is more about your food consumption and less about cardiovascular exercise,” she said.
“So it’s really pertinent to staying fit and keeping your cardiovascular system nice and strong.”
3. ‘What am I doing now that could hurt my bone density?’
By the time women enter their 40s, most have already reached their peak bone density, as it begins to decrease in the years surrounding menopause, according to experts.
Many of Fiffick’s patients are surprised to learn that certain over-the-counter medications can contribute to bone loss.
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Those include proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, a type of medication that prevents acid reflux.
“They can help degrade bone if you’re on them for a very long time,” Fiffick warned.
Some studies have suggested that metformin, a medication that is used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, could also impact bone density, according to the doctor.
By the time women enter their 40s, most have already reached their peak bone density, as it begins to decrease in the years surrounding menopause. (iStock)
Other threats to bone health include significant alcohol or tobacco consumption, she said.
“If you’re having more than around one drink every evening, that’s probably a bit too much for bone health,” she noted.
“As far as tobacco goes, no amount is a good amount. Those sorts of things are actively hurting your bones.”
4. ‘Which supplements are effective and worth the money?’
With so many female-focused supplements on the market, it can be tough to determine which are essential and which can be skipped.
“My two go-to supplements are vitamin D and magnesium,” Fiffick told Fox News Digital.
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“Getting enough vitamin D is important to help keep our bones healthy, but it can be difficult to get only through food, so most people need to take a supplement.”
Magnesium is also important for women in their 40s due to its impact on bone health, heart health, hormonal balance and mood regulation, according to experts.
“Getting enough vitamin D is important to help keep our bones healthy, but it can be difficult to get only through food, so most people need to take a supplement,” the doctor said. (iStock)
“Additionally, magnesium is said to help with the constipation that happens in perimenopause and menopause, as well as helping people sleep a little bit better,” Fiffick said.
For calcium, the doctor advises women to get it through diet rather than supplements.
“My two go-to supplements are vitamin D and magnesium.”
“Most people who eat a more American diet get more than enough calcium through foods,” she said.
To help determine whether you need a supplement, Fiffick recommends going to the National Osteoporosis Foundation website, which provides a list of foods containing calcium and vitamin D to help you calculate your own intake.
5. ‘A clinician told me I’m too young for perimenopause or menopause — is this true?’
Fiffick often hears from patients who assume they’re too young to transition into this next phase of life.
“‘Normal’ menopause can happen anywhere between ages 45 and 55 — but sometimes it happens” at a younger age, she told Fox News Digital.
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For women starting the process at between 40 and 45 years old, it’s considered “early menopause,” Fiffick said — but it’s not treated separately from “normal” menopause.
After 55, it is considered late menopause, she noted.
“The group that we treat really separately are the people who are under 40 when they start menopause — those are the ones we call ‘premature menopause,’” Fiffick said.
“As your body stops having estrogen, it stops being able to protect your brain, your bones and your heart.”
Starting menopause before the age of 40 can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, Fiffick warned, which can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
“That happens because as soon as your body stops having estrogen, it stops being able to protect your brain, your bones and your heart,” she said.
For women starting the process at between 40 and 45 years old, it’s considered “early menopause,” the doctor said. (iStock)
“So all of the ‘diseases of aging’ — meaning high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis fractures — those all come on much quicker if you are menopausal earlier.”
A younger menopausal patient is treated differently than a menopausal woman in her 50s, Fiffick said.
“All the ‘diseases of aging’ come on much quicker if you are menopausal earlier.”
“For the older patients, we’re mainly trying to make you feel better and maybe do some preventative things,” she said.
“For women under 40, we’re trying to get you at least enough estrogen and progesterone so it’s as if your ovaries didn’t close up shop. So it’s a very different approach than for someone who’s a little bit older.”
6. ‘How much protein should I be eating?’
Women’s nutritional requirements change as they age, Fiffick said.
A general rule of thumb is for women in their 40s to consume about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight — and the large majority aren’t hitting that mark, the doctor noted.
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“If a woman comes into my clinic and I have her walk me through an average day of eating, even if she’s a meat eater, she’s likely only getting around 50 grams,” Fiffick said.
“With the average body weight exceeding 130 or 140 pounds, that’s not nearly enough.”
Fiffick encourages her patients to start tracking their protein to get a baseline, and then look for ways to augment that.
A general rule of thumb is for women in their 40s to consume about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight. (iStock)
An easy way to increase protein is to add powder to shakes, which usually have about 30 grams of protein, she advised.
“If you do that in addition to eating chicken, fish, legumes and other sources of protein, you’ll usually be much closer to the goal.”
7. ‘How much sleep do I need each night?’
Women in their 40s fall into what Fiffick calls the “sandwich generation,” which can make it challenging to get the appropriate amount of sleep.
“Some women have really young kids, others have teens, and some have kids in their 20s,” she said.
“Recent research found that these women tend to need upward of eight to 10 hours of sleep,” Fiffick noted.
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While the longtime rule of thumb has been that seven hours is sufficient, “that is not necessarily good enough for women,” the doctor said.
Sleep plays an essential role in all aspects of wellness, according to Fiffick — including metabolism, heart health and brain function.
While the longtime rule of thumb has been that seven hours is sufficient, “that is not necessarily good enough for women,” the doctor said. (iStock)
“We see a lot of people complain about ‘brain fog’ in perimenopause and menopause,” she said.
“And one of the biggest reasons for that is the fact that they’re not sleeping.”
Fiffick encourages her patients to advocate for themselves and ask their doctors for help with sleep optimization, “because it’s literally vital.”
8. ‘Am I a candidate for weight-loss medications or surgeries?’
As women progress into their 40s, hormonal and metabolic changes can lead to weight gain.
Some women come into Fiffick’s office and say, “I don’t want to cheat by using weight-loss medication,” she said.
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“But it’s not cheating,” the doctor said. “For some people, it’s the right fit and can help them see significant improvement.”
As every patient’s needs and goals are different, Fiffick said it’s essential for each woman to talk to her doctor and weigh the risks and benefits of medicinal or surgical options.
As women progress into their 40s, hormonal and metabolic changes can lead to weight gain. (iStock)
Some of the most important weight-loss strategies include getting enough protein and drinking enough water, according to the expert.
“By ‘front-loading’ your day with protein, you’ll stay full for longer, as it’s a slow-burning energy,” Fiffick said.
With carb-heavy breakfasts, she warned, you’re destined for a 10 a.m. slump.
When it comes to hydration, 3 liters of water daily is associated with weight loss or weight maintenance during perimenopause and menopause, Fiffick said.
“So if it’s not the right time to talk about meds with a certain patient, I automatically go back to protein and water,” she said. “In 99% of cases, one of those could be better.”
9. ‘What is my personal risk of cancer, and how can I help prevent it?’
Some of the most common cancer types affecting women include breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and skin — and the risk increases with age.
To help gauge your risk, Fiffick emphasized the importance of knowing your family history.
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“This is critical in order for a doctor to be able to do a good risk assessment for hereditary cancers,” she said.
A surprising share of women don’t have this information, in the doctor’s experience.
“The longer I’ve been a physician, I’ve realized that we don’t know what our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and cousins have going on with their health,” Fiffick said.
To help gauge your risk, the doctor emphasized the importance of knowing your family history. (iStock)
“Learning those things so that you can really understand your risk is critical — it may genuinely save your or your child’s life.”
One of the most effective ways to reduce cancer risk is to limit or eliminate alcohol consumption, according to Fiffick.
Dr. Alexa Fiffick, who is also a clinical fellow at Cleveland Clinic, is working to empower women to take control of their health proactively. (Dr. Alexa Fiffick)
“Drinking more than one glass of wine or one cocktail at night is associated with a significantly increased risk of seven or eight different types of cancers,” she noted.
Obesity is another major risk factor for cancers, the doctor said.
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“I heard a recent citation that up to 30% of all new breast cancers each year are associated with nothing other than obesity as the risk factor,” Fiffick said.
“So the two things that are really within your control are weight and alcohol consumption — and if you’re a tobacco smoker, please stop. It’s terrible.”
Health
Alzheimer’s caregiver handbook: Here are expert tips and techniques for those who tend to dementia patients
Alzheimer’s disease puts a significant burden on not only the nearly seven million people who have been diagnosed with it, but also the caregivers supporting them.
More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, according to data from the Alzheimer’s Association. And 70% of them say that caregiving is stressful.
Dr. Heather Sandison, a renowned expert in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia care, said it’s critical for caregivers to protect their own mental and physical health.
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In her new book “Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Tool Kit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health,” published by HarperCollins on June 11, Sandison — who is based in California — outlines the specific risks that caregivers face.
In the excerpt that follows, Sandison offers some tips and techniques for how caregivers can release expectations and practice self-compassion.
Dr. Heather Sandison, left, a renowned expert in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia care, said it is critical for caregivers to protect their own mental and physical health. Her new book is “Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Tool Kit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health.” (Dr. Heather Sandison/iStock)
Read an excerpt from Dr. Sandison’s new book
Dr. Heather Sandison: When I meet with a new dementia patient, I know that I am treating their caregiver in addition to treating them.
Of course, not every caregiver is on board with the idea of prioritizing their own health at that moment — mostly, they want to do everything they can to help their loved one get better.
“Dementia is almost like a virus. It doesn’t affect just one person. It can reach out and impair the cognitive health of the people who care for the patient, too.”
But dementia is almost like a virus. It doesn’t affect just one person. It can reach out and impair the cognitive health of the people who care for the patient, too.
To be blunt, if you are not caring for yourself, you are not going to be a good caregiver.
Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is such a big and important job that it’s easy to lose yourself to it … If you don’t also care for yourself, your effectiveness and your health will suffer, which will only make things worse for the person you’re caring for.
Risks of caregiving
I’m guessing you already know that caring for someone with dementia is taxing. You may not realize just how detrimental to your own health it can be. I’m sharing this list so that you can see the potential costs of not tending to your own well-being during this time.
An expert in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia care, Dr. Sandison believes that reversal isn’t just possible but that it’s already happening in multiple patients. (Dr. Heather Sandison)
Caregiver burden
Whether you’re living with your care partner and providing day-to-day care, or living at a distance and providing mostly financial and/or logistical support, having someone in your life who has dementia is often hard in multiple ways — emotionally, physically and financially.
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Many people find that their sleep, diet, physical exercise and fun suffer. It’s a burden that works in two directions: It’s common to give up the things that help you stay healthy, and to feel a big weight of responsibility, frustration and guilt.
With Alzheimer’s, patients lose their independence, and there are no benchmarks that align with a predictable timeline. That unpredictability can make the experience stressful and uniquely challenging.
Impaired cognitive function
Research has found that dementia caregivers have significantly lower scores on tests of cognitive function.
“With Alzheimer’s, patients lose their independence, and there are no benchmarks that align with a predictable timeline,” Sandison writes. “That unpredictability can make the experience stressful and uniquely challenging.” (iStock)
This may be linked to the fact that many caregivers report poor sleep, which can impair your ability to process and respond to information, and thus can influence how safely you are able to perform complex caregiving tasks.
Depression
Depression and dementia are closely linked — having depression can increase your risk of dementia, and having dementia can increase your risk of depression.
“Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s is such a big and important job that it’s easy to lose yourself to it.”
On top of that, caregivers of people with dementia experience depression more frequently than the general population, and depression in a caregiver can in turn affect the status and prognosis of the dementia patient.
Isolation
A common feeling among dementia caregivers is that people who aren’t also caring for someone with dementia can’t understand what it’s like, which understandably can lead to feeling isolated from others.
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Also, your devotion to your loved one can make it hard to ask for help. On top of that, your caregiving duties may be preventing you from getting together with friends or doing things that get you in the company of others, such as working out at the gym, attending church or participating in some other social activity.
Dementia risk
Devastatingly, all these negative effects combine to create an increased risk of developing dementia yourself — up to a sixfold increase compared to non-caregivers. Which is not to say that caring for someone with dementia definitely means you are getting dementia, too.
It’s really when the sense of caregiving burden is high — and you don’t exercise as much, sleep as well or make healthy food choices — that this risk is at its highest.
Caregiver non-negotiable: At least one day off
If there’s one thing I know for absolute certain about Alzheimer’s, it’s this: Taking care of someone with dementia is not a one-person job.
Trying to do it all yourself without ever taking a break is impossible. It will only increase your caregiver burden and put you on the path to burnout, which can then take a toll on your own risk of developing dementia and render you less able to care for your loved one.
More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. (iStock)
It’s for this reason that I tell every caregiver I encounter that there is only one nonnegotiable piece of any caregiving plan, and that is that you take at least one full day a week off from caregiving.
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Why? In addition to staving off your own burnout as well as giving you some time to care for yourself, putting in place a “my day Friday” (or any other day[s] of the week) will force you to line up some help.
Even if you think you don’t need any assistance now, it is only a matter of time until that changes.
Tools and techniques
Whether you realize it or not, you already have ways of coping with the stress that caregiving can give rise to — it’s just that they are likely not that helpful in the long run. That may be skipping out on sleep, drinking alcohol, blaming others, blaming yourself or deciding that you just need to try harder.
All these can ultimately only add to your caregiver burden, not lessen it.
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Here, I’m providing a laundry list of tools and techniques that can help make a positive difference in both your day-to-day reality and your long-term health.
Reframing
This is a shift in your thinking that helps you deal with the unexpected with more equanimity — such as when your loved one is not listening to you. It’s very easy to be judgmental in these moments, and to feel victimized, as in “Why are they making my life harder?” Especially when you’re caring for a family member, with whom you have a long history.
Ultimately, making it about you and judging the other person leads to more disconnection, which can breed upset and an escalation of the challenge.
“Self-compassion has also been shown to reduce the perception of caregiver burden,” Sandison writes. “An important way you can implement self-compassion is to continually remind yourself that you’re doing your best.” (iStock)
Whenever you’re in that place of judgment, there is an invitation in that moment to notice that you’ve gotten upset, and then reframe your loved one’s behavior as the communication of an unmet need.
Determining an unmet need requires some curiosity and some detective work. In any situation, take a step back and objectively ask, “What’s going on here?”
“There is only one nonnegotiable piece of any caregiving plan, and that is that you take at least one full day a week off from caregiving.”
For example, if your care partner isn’t listening to you, instead of concluding that they are choosing not to hear you, stay open enough to investigate if their hearing aid is turned up, or needs a new battery, or if there’s too much background noise.
Releasing expectations
This is probably one of the hardest things about loving and caring for someone with dementia — little by little, they lose the ability to do things they once could, whether that’s log into an online account, manage finances, remember your name or brush their teeth.
As painful as these losses can be to witness, what makes them more upsetting is when you expect your loved one always to be able to do what they once could.
That’s why, even though you hold out hope that they will be able to do some of these things again, it’s helpful to everyone — especially you — if you can let go of the expectation that they continue to be the person they were. By releasing the expectation, you can relieve yourself of at least a bit of the disappointment that comes from being let down when your expectation isn’t met.
Take at least one day off per week from caregiving, an Alzheimer’s expert and author of a new book recommends. (iStock)
Maintaining a spirit of curiosity can help.
Saying things to yourself such as, “I wonder how this will go,” can help you meet your care partner where they are that day. Don’t forget to enjoy and celebrate when your loved one does regain capacity.
Self-compassion
Self-compassion has also been shown to reduce the perception of caregiver burden. An important way you can implement self-compassion is to continually remind yourself that you’re doing your best.
That may not mean you’re doing a perfect job, or even a great job — some days, you may need to phone it in because you didn’t sleep well the night before, or you’re not feeling well, or you have to focus on work that day, and that’s OK.
But it does mean that you are doing the best you can in that moment.
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The fact that you are willing to be a pioneer and learn about the things that can prevent or reverse the downward slide of dementia and put in the work to help your loved one get better suggests to me that not only are you doing your best, you’re doing a phenomenal job. It’s not easy to be at the forefront of a movement.
“Try talking to yourself the same way you would talk to a friend — someone you care for, and whom you’re trying to encourage.”
Another important tool is to become aware of how you talk to yourself. We all have moments when we get frustrated, say the wrong thing or do something we later wish we could take back. I think we can agree that no one is perfect.
So when things do go wrong, begin to notice what you say to yourself about it. It helps you become an observer of your own thoughts, which then creates a window of opportunity to be more intentional about what you tell yourself.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
In these moments, try talking to yourself the same way you would talk to a friend — someone you care for, and whom you’re trying to encourage.
If they made a mistake, I’m guessing you wouldn’t criticize them.
You would just remind them that they’re doing their best. Resist the urge to say harsh, judgmental or downright mean things to yourself.
Excerpted with permission from the new book, “Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Tool Kit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health” (HarperCollins) by Dr. Heather Sandison, copyright © 2024 by Dr. Heather Sandison. All rights reserved.
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Greater epilepsy awareness could be as simple as a walk on the beach, thanks to one New Jersey man.
Kyle Adamkiewicz, 33, has lived with epilepsy since being diagnosed at age 6. He is now combining his love of art with the power of nature to help bring his seizure disorder into the spotlight.
In Oct. 2022, Adamkiewicz began collecting seashells from the New Jersey shore, then painting and decorating them with heartfelt messages in search of a cure. He places his works of art along the seaside boardwalks in the hopes that they will inspire strangers to spread the word — and the shells.
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“It started with just painting a few shells, and I figured no one would find them,” Adamkiewicz said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“And then I saw people posting them online, and writing so many good and positive comments about the shells and about finding a cure for epilepsy. That motivated me to keep making more and more and more.”
Kyle Adamkiewicz, shown above, now 33, has lived with epilepsy since he was diagnosed at age 6. He is combining his love of art with the power of nature to help raise awareness of his disease. (Adamkiewicz family)
“And now they have been around the entire world.”
Adamkiewicz doesn’t drive, so his parents — Chuck and Laurie Adamkiewicz — drive him to place his shells.
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“We have shells with us in the car all the time, and he places them in different locations, different towns,” his mother told Fox News Digital.
Adamkiewicz estimates that he’s painted some 1,100 shells so far.
Many include messages about finding a cure for epilepsy, but he has also created themed designs for various occasions, like Shark Week and Halloween.
Adamkiewicz has painted over 1,000 shells so far. “Our entire living room consists of nothing but shells and paint,” joked Adamkiewicz’s mother. (Adamkiewicz family)
“Our entire living room consists of nothing but shells and paint,” joked Adamkiewicz’s mother.
In addition to a hand-painted design, each shell contains Adamkiewicz’s initials, the year he decorated it and a QR code.
When people find the shells and scan the QR code, it takes them to a website. From there, they can access Adamkiewicz’s Facebook group, his Instagram account and a GoFundMe page set up to help raise funds for people to get “seizure alert” dogs.
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It also links to the Epilepsy Foundation website, where people can learn what to do if they witness someone having a seizure.
“Most people don’t really know how to handle someone if they’re having a seizure,” Adamkiewicz told Fox News Digital. “They just turn their back and walk the opposite way.”
In addition to a hand-painted design, each shell contains Adamkiewiczs’s initials, the year he decorated it and a QR code. (Adamkiewicz family)
“One out of 26 people in the world have epilepsy, but it’s basically a hidden disease that nobody really wants to know about.”
The Adamkiewicz family has a map of the world hanging on the wall — with pushpins to mark where the shells have been found, they told Fox News Digital.
In addition to locations across the U.S., shells have also been scanned in Mexico City, Greece, Italy, Panama, Canada, Nova Scotia, France, South Korea and Germany, Adamkiewicz said.
“One out of 26 people in the world have epilepsy, but it’s basically a hidden disease.”
“People will find the shells and take them to those places,” Adamkiewicz said. “And sometimes people will ask me for shells to take to wherever they are traveling.”
He’s also partnered with the hospital to get kids with epilepsy involved in his project, bringing shells in for them so they can paint their own designs.
Touching lives
Beyond helping to find a cure, Adamkiewicz has a goal of reducing bullying of people with epilepsy.
Adamkiewicz is pictured with his mother, Laurie Adamkiewicz. In April, he underwent a procedure to implant a responsive neurostimulation (RNS) device in his brain, which will gather data about his seizure activity. (Adamkiewicz family)
“When I was growing up, if my parents or brother weren’t there, I was always made fun of in school and in the neighborhood,” Adamkiewicz said. “Especially right after I had a seizure — the kids would just stare at me and make fun of me.”
He went on, “I want people to know it’s OK to be friends with someone with epilepsy.”
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At one point, during second and third grade, he estimates that he was having 100 seizures per day.
“It’s been a very hard and lonely life for Kyle, and very painful to see as a mother and father,” Laurie Adamkiewicz added.
The goal, she said, is that the shells will help to make life a little easier for those with epilepsy — and their families.
Adamkiewicz said his seashell project has been a therapeutic endeavor for him. “If it’s been a really bad day, that’s mostly what I’ll be doing,” he said. (Adamkiewicz family)
Adamkiewicz’s mother recalled a man who posted about a personal experience on the Facebook group.
“His son had passed away, and the man goes to the ocean every morning to say good morning to his son,” she said. “And there was the epilepsy shell, and he said he started crying. He said it was just like a gift to him.”
She added, “You never know whose lives you’re touching.”
Taking control
Since age 12, Adamkiewicz has been a patient at NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, one of the largest programs in the nation, where he’s had a series of brain surgeries.
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In April, he underwent a procedure to implant a responsive neurostimulation (RNS) device in his brain, which will gather data about his seizure activity.
Neurosurgeon Peter Rozman, M.D., performed the surgery alongside his mentor, Werner K. Doyle, M.D., Adamkiewicz’s longtime doctor.
Adamkiewicz and his mom, Laurie Adamkiewiz, are pictured with some of his painted shells. (Adamkiewicz family)
“This system has the capacity to actually record brain activity in the form of electrical waves that detect when the seizures start, so it can deliver an impulse to the brain at that time, with the goal of aborting the seizure,” Rozman said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The data collected by the device is sent to the neurologist, who uses that information to program the device to better capture and treat the seizures, he said.
“Over time, people see more and more improvement in their seizures,” Rozman said.
Rozman praised Adamkiewicz’s seashell project, emphasizing the importance of increasing awareness of the condition.
“And it gives him an outlet, too,” the doctor said. “Having other people to talk about your condition with and being part of a community can be very helpful.”
Each shell contains a QR code that a person can scan to access information, resources and fundraisers for epilepsy. (Adamkiewicz family)
In a way, Rozman said, Adamkiewicz is turning his epilepsy into a good thing.
“It’s beneficial on both sides — for raising awareness and also allowing Kyle to have more control and to drive the story,” he said.
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“It can be such a devastating thing to have to deal with on a daily basis, and having some sort of license and control over that is really important.”
Adamkiewicz agreed that his project has been a therapeutic endeavor for him.
“We want to teach people how to be kind, and how to help.”
“If it’s been a really bad day, that’s mostly what I’ll be doing,” he said.
“Like earlier today, I was painting some shells and had my ear buds in, just listening to some music. I’m just so focused on painting the shells that I zone everybody else out.”
Adamkiewicz’s shells have been found in many cities and countries around the world, including in Paris, France. (Adamkiewicz family)
Adamkiewicz and his mother are also working on a children’s book to teach kids more about epilepsy and what to do if someone is having a seizure.
“When someone has a seizure, it can be frightening to other children,” said Laurie Adamkiewicz mother.
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“So the goal is to get some information out there, to take the stigma away from the person who has epilepsy … We want to teach people how to be kind, and how to help.”
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