Actor John O'Hurley Hosts New AAN Epilepsy Video

MINNEAPOLIS, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Television actor and "Dancing with the Stars" winner John O'Hurley is the host of Epilepsy: A Guide for Patients and Families, the latest free patient education DVD and guidebook produced by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and its foundation, the American Brain Foundation. This valuable resource answers important questions for people with newly diagnosed epilepsy and their caregivers.

Free copies of the DVD and guidebook can be ordered by calling (800) 879-1960.  In addition, the guidebook can be downloaded for free at http://patients.aan.com/go/videos.

Among his many credits, John O'Hurley played J. Peterman on "Seinfeld," hosted "Family Feud," and was a popular contestant on "Dancing with the Stars." His knowledge of epilepsy is personal, as O'Hurley's sister died of epilepsy at age 16. He has also worked on behalf of The Epilepsy Foundation. 

Expert advice to help people and their families understand epilepsy is presented by Gregory D. Cascino, MD, professor of neurology and chair of the Division of Epilepsy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Daniel Hoch, PhD, MD, neurologist and epilepsy specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Both Cascino and Hoch are Fellows of the American Academy of Neurology.

The epilepsy DVD and accompanying guidebook provide an overview of the disease and its causes, how it is diagnosed and treatments available. The kit also includes a seizure diary form and helpful tips on living well with epilepsy.

The video will be broadcast in several television markets: Chicago WBBM/Channel 2 – Saturday, May 18, at 12:30 p.m. CST; Houston KHOU/Channel 11 – Saturday, May 18, at 12:30 p.m. CST; Boston WBZ/Channel 4 – Saturday, May 18, at 1:30 p.m. EST; Atlanta WGCL/Channel 46 – Sunday, May 19, at 12:30 p.m. EST; San Francisco KPIX/Channel 5 – Sunday, May 19, at 4:00 p.m. PST

To obtain your free DVD or for more information, please contact the American Academy of Neurology at (800) 879-1960 or [email protected].

View the video at http://www.youtube.com/aanchannel or http://www.youtube.com/CureBrainDisease.

Epilepsy is diagnosed in an estimated one out of every 26 people in the United States.

Epilepsy: A Guide for Patients and Families is a presentation of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Brain Foundation and is sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

About the American Academy of Neurology
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 26,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

About the American Brain Foundation
The American Brain Foundation, the foundation of the American Academy of Neurology, is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that funds the most crucial research to cure brain disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Brain disease affects more than 50 million people in the United States alone. In moving toward its vision, the American Brain Foundation's goal is to reduce the prevalence of brain disease 50 percent by 2040.  Learn more at https://www.curebraindisease.org/. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion)
Sunovion is a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic products that advance the science of medicine in the Psychiatry & Neurology and Respiratory disease areas and improve the lives of patients and their families. Sunovion, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. More information about Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is available at https://www.sunovion.com.

SOURCE American Academy of Neurology