Sulforaphane and autism

McGuinness G, Kim Y. Sulforaphane treatment for autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. EXCLI J. 2020 Jun 26;19:892-903. doi: 10.17179/excli2020-2487. PMID: 33013262; PMCID: PMC7527484.

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication impairment, delayed development, social function deficit, and repetitive behaviors. The Center for Disease Control reports an increase in ASD diagnosis rates every year. This systematic review evaluated the use of sulforaphane (SFN) therapy as a potential treatment option for individuals with ASD. PubMed.gov, PubMed Central, Natural Medicines, BoardVitals, Google Scholar and Medline were searched for studies measuring the effects of SFN on behavior and cognitive function. All five clinical trials included in this systematic review showed a significant positive correlation between SFN use and ASD behavior and cognitive function. The current evidence shows with minimal side effects observed, SFN appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for treating ASD.

Zhang X, He Q, Zhu YY, Lorimer GH, Bayram H, Ghiladi RA, Wang J. Emerging Promise of Sulforaphane in Autism: A Comprehensive Review of Its Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2026 Aug 5;17(15):2880-2892. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6c00282. PMID: 42473985.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that emerges in early childhood and significantly impacts the quality of life for individuals and families. Currently, there are no specific medications available for ASD. Increasing attention is now focused on bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Sulforaphane (SFN), a key member of the isothiocyanate family, is abundant in cruciferous vegetables. It exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects with minimal side effects, while oxidative stress and inflammation are recognized triggers in ASD pathogenesis. As research deepens, SFN's physiological activities─including antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties are gaining heightened attention. Building on prior studies, this review comprehensively summarizes seven potential pathways through which SFN protects neurodevelopment or reverses ASD-related neural damage, including Keap1/Nrf2/ARE; MAPKs; NF-κB; HSR; AhR/CYP1; Sirtuin-FOXO; and mTOR/autophagy signaling pathways, elucidating the potential mechanisms underlying its multifaceted actions. This review offers new insights for the comprehensive utilization of sulforaphane and the treatment of ASD.

Long J, Liao X, Tang Z, Han K, Chen J, Wang X, Liu J, Zhang Y, Zhang H. Investigating the clinical efficacy, safety and molecular mechanism of sulforaphane in autism spectrum disorder: an integrated study combining meta-analysis, network pharmacology, and computational biology. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2025 Nov 22;26(1):217. doi: 10.1186/s40360-025-01052-5. PMID: 41275316; PMCID: PMC12751817.

Abstract

Background: Sulforaphane, a natural antioxidant rich in cruciferous vegetables, has emerged as a promising dietary supplement for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, its therapeutic efficacy remains controversial, and the pharmacological mechanisms are not fully elucidated.

Methods: Eligible randomized controlled trials were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Review Manager 5.4 was used for meta-analysis and bias risk assessment. Network pharmacology, Mendelian randomization, GEO data analyses, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation were employed to explore the mechanisms of sulforaphane in ASD.

Results: Six trials involving 333 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled results demonstrated that both 4-5 weeks and 8-10 weeks of sulforaphane supplementation significantly decreased the scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale compared to placebo controls. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events. Network pharmacology identified 10 core targets of sulforaphane in ASD, including AKT1, EGFR, HSP90AA1, SRC, CASP3, STAT1, MAPK1, MMP9, MAPK8, and JAK2. These targets were implicated in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Chemokine signaling pathway, Chemical carcinogenesis - reactive oxygen species, TNF signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, mTOR signaling pathway, and IL-17 signaling pathway. Mendelian randomization further revealed an inverse association between STAT1 levels and ASD risk. GEO transcriptomic data provided independent validation for the network pharmacology predictions. The binding energies between sulforaphane and the top 10 core targets are all ≤ -4.0 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics simulations further validated the stable interaction between MMP-9 and sulforaphane.

Conclusion: Sulforaphane may serve as an efficacious and safe adjunctive therapy for ASD, mediated by its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects along with the modulation of autophagy.

Guo J, Wang Y, He W, Lou M, Peng Y, Shi H, Lian A. Effects of sulforaphane on ABC and SRS scales in patients with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis. Brain Dev. 2025 Apr;47(2):104321. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2025.104321. Epub 2025 Feb 14. PMID: 39951914.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become an increasingly prominent global health issue. Sulforaphane is a phytochemical with multiple functions that target many of the same biochemical and molecular pathways (biomarkers) associated with ASD. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis based on sulforaphane's effect on Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) in patients with ASD. We conducted comprehensive searches in the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from their inception. The modified Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to check the risk of bias of the included studies. Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct this meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis showed that sulforaphane significantly improved irritability and hyperactivity symptoms, suggesting that sulforaphane has the potential for the combined treatment of autism. Additional studies are needed to confirm and explore the effect of sulforaphane.

Ou J, Smith RC, Tobe RH, Lin J, Arriaza J, Fahey JW, Liu R, Zeng Y, Liu Y, Huang L, Shen Y, Li Y, Cheng D, Cornblatt B, Davis JM, Zhao J, Wu R, Jin H. Efficacy of Sulforaphane in Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Multi-center Trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Feb;54(2):628-641. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05784-9. Epub 2022 Nov 24. PMID: 36427174.

Abstract

Sulforaphane has been reported to possibly improve core symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders from mostly small size studies. Here we present results of a larger randomized clinical trial (N = 108) in China. There were no significant changes in caregiver rated scales between sulforaphane and placebo groups. However, clinician rated scales showed a significant improvement in the sulforaphane group, and one third of participants showed at least a 30% decrease in score by 12 weeks treatment. The effects of sulforaphane were seen across the full range of intelligence and greater in participants over 10 years. Sulforaphane was safe and well-tolerated even for young children. The inconsistent results between caregiver and clinician rated scales suggest more clinical trials are needed to confirm our findings.

Ecopipam for Tourette syndrome 3

Gilbert DL, Atkinson SD, Kim DJB, Miller MM, Rice PM, Flatt JA, Karkanias GB, Munschauer FE, Bittman RM, Wanaski SP, Cunniff TM, Tomczak KK. Efficacy and Safety of Ecopipam for Tourette Syndrome: A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol. 2026 Jul 1;83(7):645-653. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.1431. PMID: 42189524; PMCID: PMC13213590.

Abstract

Importance: Current Tourette syndrome (TS) pharmacotherapy is hindered by adverse effects and high discontinuation rates.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and maintenance of effect of ecopipam, a selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, for up to 24 weeks for TS.

Design, setting, and participants: This randomized clinical trial was a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal study conducted between January 31, 2023, and February 4, 2025. Participants were enrolled at 77 sites in 12 countries. Individuals 6 years and older with TS were eligible.

Intervention: In the 12-week, open-label period, ecopipam was titrated over 3 to 4 weeks (target dose, 1.8 mg/kg per day). Responders (≥25% improvement in Yale Global Tic Severity Scale Total Tic Score [YGTSS-TTS] at weeks 8 and 12) were randomized to continue ecopipam or taper to placebo for the 12-week double-blind period.

Main outcomes and measures: Time to relapse (≥50% loss of open-label period YGTSS-TTS improvement) in participants aged 6 to 18 years (primary) and adults (exploratory).

Results: The trial enrolled 216 participants (n = 167 [77.3%] pediatric; 146 [67.6%] male and 70 [32.4%] female) to the open-label ecopipam period. Of these, 43 pediatric participants (mean [SD] age, 14.3 [5.5] years) and 8 adult participants were randomized to receive ecopipam; 47 pediatric (mean [SD] age, 14.0 [5.8] years) and 6 adult participants were randomized to receive placebo. Ecopipam significantly reduced the relapse risk vs placebo in pediatric participants (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.84; P = .008; n = 90). In adults, the effect was directionally similar (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.11-2.30; P = .37; n = 14) but not significant. The most frequently reported adverse events with ecopipam (open-label and double-blind periods) were somnolence (n = 24 [11.1%]), anxiety (n = 21 [9.7%]), headache (n = 21 [9.7%]), insomnia (n = 19 [8.8%]), tic (n = 17 [7.9%]), and fatigue (n = 14 [6.5%]). Ecopipam did not have a clinically meaningful impact on weight, metabolic parameters, or psychiatric scale measures. Drug-induced movement disorders were not observed.

Conclusions and relevance: Ecopipam maintained clinically meaningful TS symptom improvements and was well tolerated for up to 24 weeks. Adverse events primarily affected the central nervous system

Panda PK, Panda P, Dawman L, Mishra AS, Kumar V, Sharawat IK. Safety and Efficacy of Ecopipam in Patients with Tourette Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. CNS Drugs. 2025 Feb;39(2):127-142. doi: 10.1007/s40263-024-01140-w. Epub 2024 Dec 27. PMID: 39730854.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Ecopipam is a selective antagonist of the dopamine D1 receptor, and its efficacy and safety have recently been explored in several clinical trials involving patients with Tourette syndrome (TS). The objectives of this systematic review were to determine the pooled estimate for efficacy [in terms of reduction in tic Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores] and safety of oral ecopipam in subjects with TS.

Methods: All clinical trials that explored the efficacy and/or safety of ecopipam in patients with TS were included to determine the pooled estimate for change in YGTSS, Clinical Global Impression (CGI)-TS, and the severity of comorbid attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD), and depressive symptoms, as well as the nature and frequency of adverse effects. Case-series, retrospective studies, and case reports were excluded. Databases, such as PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SCOPUS were searched to identify these trials using suitable combination of MESH terms/keywords on 15 June 2024. ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tool were used to assess the risk of bias in included randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized intervention studies, respectively, and the GRADE system to determine the certainty of the collated evidence.

Results: A total of 96 records were identified in the database search and 31 records were screened after removing duplicates. After excluding 23 irrelevant records, the full-text review included 8 records. Finally, six publications from three completed clinical trials (two RCTs, with one having an open-label extension) and one ongoing clinical trial were included. A total of 251 participants were included. The pooled estimate for mean change in YGTSS-TTS from baseline to the completion of the randomization period was statistically better in the ecopipam group compared with the placebo group [mean difference: - 3.0, 95% (confidence interval (CI) - 4.2 to - 1.9, I2 = 55%, p < 0.0001]. The ecopipam group also fared statistically better in terms of YGTSS-motor tic score, phonic tic score, as well as CGI-TS-S (p < 0.0001). Changes in depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were comparable in both groups, as well as the incidence of adverse effects.

Conclusions: Ecopipam is effective in reducing the severity of tics in subjects with TS and has a good safety profile. However, only a limited number of studies were included in the review, with some having small sample sizes and short duration of follow-up.

Gilbert DL, Budman CL, Singer HS, Kurlan R, Chipkin RE. A D1 receptor antagonist, ecopipam, for treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2014 Jan-Feb;37(1):26-30. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000017. PMID: 24434529.

Abstract

Objectives: Dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling has been hypothesized to underlie the motor and phonic tics in Tourette syndrome (TS). The objective of this trial was to evaluate the safety and tic-reducing activity of the selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonist ecopipam in adults with TS.

Methods: This was a multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label study of 50-mg ecopipam daily (weeks 1-2) and then 100 mg daily (weeks 3-8), taken orally before bedtime. The primary efficacy end point was the change in the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) total tic score. Comorbid psychiatric symptoms and premonitory urges were rated; weight, serum metabolic studies, and adverse effects were monitored.

Results: Eighteen adults (15 men; 15 white, 2 African American, 1 Asian), with a mean age of 36.2 years (range, 18-63 years), were enrolled, and 15 completed the study. Mean (SD) YGTSS Total Tic score was 30.6 (8.8) at baseline and 25.3 (9.2) at 8 weeks (2-tailed paired t17 = 4.4; P = 0.0004). Mean (SD) YGTSS impairment score was 29.7 (10.9) at baseline and 22.8 (13.7) at final visit (t17 = 2.2; P = 0.04). There was no significant change in premonitory urges or psychiatric symptoms. Mean change in weight was -0.7 kg (P = 0.07). The most commonly reported adverse events were sedation (39%), fatigue (33%), insomnia (33%), somnolence (28%), anxiety (22%), headache (22%), and muscle twitching (22%).

Conclusions: In this open-label study in adults with TS, tics were reduced after 8 weeks of treatment with ecopipam. To confirm safety and efficacy, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trials are warranted.

Great experiments 4

Courtesy of a colleague

Garrow JS, Gardiner GT. Maintenance of weight loss in obese patients after jaw wiring. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1981 Mar 14;282(6267):858-60. doi: 10.1136/bmj.282.6267.858. PMID: 6783203; PMCID: PMC1504679.

In treatment of obesity restriction of food intake is necessary to achieve good results. Various operations have been devised to prevent patients overeating, but in this study jaw wiring was used to limit food intake. This procedure produces weight loss in obese patients but when the wires are removed the weight is usually regained. This report studied a group of patients whose weight loss was maintained after the wires were removed. A nylon cord fastened round the waist of the patient after weight reduction was found to act as a psychological barrier to weight gain. Seven patients were followed for 4-14 months after removal of jaw wires and regained a mean of only 5.6 kg of the 31.8 kg lost while their jaws were wired. This procedure compares favourably with other treatments for severe obesity.

Oligodendroglioma

Busy Philipps is “grateful to be alive” after a shocking health scare.

The 47-year-old actress revealed this week that doctors discovered a rare, slow-growing malignant tumor in her brain earlier this year, despite her having no obvious symptoms.

Philipps opened up about the ordeal in a People cover story published Wednesday, saying she underwent two surgeries as a result of her grade 2 oligodendroglioma.

The “Dawson’s Creek” alum called the past six months the “weirdest” of her life, dubbing herself “the luckiest girl in the world” after following through with a full-body MRI scan her primary physician had initially talked her out of.

She ultimately decided to schedule the scan after speaking with her cousin-in-law, Dr. Justin Donlan, an internist who told her that “knowledge is power.”

Doctors spotted the tumor during a Prenuvo scan on Feb. 12, just one day after her former co-star James Van Der Beek died of colorectal cancer at age 48. The star had actually been considering canceling her appointment when her husband suggested the health check might be “the best thing” she could do for her late friend.

So, what exactly is an oligodendroglioma — and what subtle symptoms can signal the disease? Here’s what to know.

What are oligodendrogliomas?

An oligodendroglioma is a rare type of brain tumor that can also develop in the spinal cord. It starts in oligodendrocytes, cells that help support and protect the nerve cells responsible for sending messages throughout the brain and nervous system, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Philipps was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, which is considered a “low-grade” tumor by the World Health Organization. That means it typically grows slowly and is generally easier to treat than more aggressive brain tumors.

“It is considered malignant, but it has the best prognosis of all of the malignant gliomas,” Dr. Alexandra Miller, Philipps’ neuro-oncologist at NYU Langone, told People.

“It’s sort of defined as a cancerous tumor based on the ability of the tumor to regrow over time, rather than it looking very malignant under the microscope.”

Higher-grade oligodendrogliomas are more aggressive. As they become more advanced, the tumors can grow faster, damage surrounding brain tissue and become more difficult to treat.

How common is oligodendrogliomas?

Oligodendrogliomas are relatively rare, accounting for an estimated 1.3% of all brain tumors in the US. About 1,100 Americans are diagnosed with the tumor each year, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.

They are most often diagnosed in adults between the ages of 20 and 40. The tumors are considered extremely rare in children under 15.

What are the symptoms of oligodendrogliomas?

Oligodendrogliomas can cause different symptoms depending on where the tumor is located and how big it grows. The most common warning sign is a seizure, which affects nearly 80% of patients, according to Columbia University.

When a tumor develops in the frontal lobe, it can trigger personality or behavior changes, as well as weakness or partial paralysis on one side of the body, known as hemiparesis.

Other symptoms can include headaches, partial vision loss and trouble with speech or language. Tumors in the temporal lobe, however, can be especially sneaky, sometimes causing few noticeable symptoms and going undetected for years.

Philipps said doctors caught her tumor before she developed any obvious symptoms. Still, in the years before her diagnosis, she had told her former “Dawson’s Creek” co-star and close friend Michelle Williams that she felt like her brain was “broken.”

“I’ve been saying this for the last few years,” Philipps told People. “I wasn’t consciously aware that anything was really wrong, but there was something that was misfiring. Like, I could not get a handle on it.”

How are oligodendrogliomas treated?

Oligodendrogliomas are considered one of the more treatable types of brain cancer.

Surgery is usually the first line of attack, with doctors aiming to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging healthy brain tissue. Depending on the results, patients may also need radiation or chemotherapy.

For Philipps, that meant a roughly five-hour surgery on March 2 to remove the 2.6-centimeter mass from her brain. Doctors identified it as an oligodendroglioma after biopsying the tumor.

Her doctors told her that waiting until she developed seizures could have allowed the tumor to grow to two or three times its size — potentially making it more difficult to remove completely.

Philipps initially made it through the operation without incident, but later developed a staphylococcus infection in her incision. She needed a second surgery to clean out the infected area and remove one of the tiny titanium tacks doctors had used to hold her skull bone in place.

Are oligodendrogliomas deadly?

Many patients have a good chance of living for years after diagnosis.

The outlook is typically better when the tumor is caught early. Between 69% and 90% of people with low-grade oligodendrogliomas are still alive five years after diagnosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, with survival rates potentially even higher among younger adults.

For people with high-grade oligodendrogliomas, the five-year survival rate ranges from 45% to 76%.

Philipps told People she feels grateful for going through with the Prenuvo scan that caught her tumor, saying she hopes she can inspire other people to listen to their gut.

“We are frequently told by doctors that there is nothing to worry about [when] you kind of know that there’s something to worry about,” she said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of in having information. It’s only empowering.” 

McKenzie Beard

https://nypost.com/health/what-is-oligodendroglioma/

Epiwatch for tonic-clonic seizure detection in children and adults

Krauss GL, Elizebath R, Shah S, et al. Phase III trial of epiwatch for tonic-clonic seizure detection in children and adults https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000111. Neurol Open Access. 2026; Epub 2026 May 27.

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy are high in individuals with uncontrolled tonic-clonic seizures (TCSs), particularly in those who sleep alone. Wearable seizure detection devices can alert caregivers to provide timely intervention; however, current devices risk stigma and have high false alarm rates (FARs) that discourage consistent use and caregiver responses. EpiWatch is a seizure detection application (app) developed for the Apple Watch, designed to minimize FAR without compromising detection sensitivity or latency. We evaluated the sensitivity and FAR of EpiWatch for detecting TCSs in children and adults undergoing video-EEG monitoring.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, multicenter Phase III diagnostic accuracy study at 6 epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) from September 2021 to October 2023. Children and adults aged 5 years and older with a history of TCSs or clinical potential for TCSs and who underwent video-EEG monitoring were eligible. Participants wore the EpiWatch device on the wrist contralateral to their seizure focus. EpiWatch detections were compared with TCS events classified by an independent Central Reader Panel of epileptologists blinded to device output. Co-primary end points were sensitivity and FAR per 24 hours. Secondary end points included detection latency and performance during sleep. Enrollment was slowed during COVID-19 restrictions, which extended the recruitment period.

Results

A total of 242 participants were enrolled (mean age 22.7 years; 54.1% female; 60.7% aged 5–21). EpiWatch detected 46 of 47 panel-verified TCSs; 1 seizure was missed when a caregiver restrained the participant's arm. The overall sensitivity was 98% (95% CI 95%–100%). There were 56 false alarms during 16,189 hours of monitoring, with a FAR of 0.08 per 24 hours (95% CI 0.02–0.12), equivalent to 1 false alarm every 12.4 days. All age groups had similarly low FARs. The median detection latency was 31.5 seconds. During sleep, all TCSs were detected, and all false alarms from sleep were associated with seizure activity. No adverse events occurred.

Discussion

EpiWatch detected TCSs with high sensitivity and a FAR approximately one-tenth that of other published devices. These findings were obtained in a controlled EMU environment; real-world performance may differ.

Classification of Evidence
This study provides Class I evidence that, in patients with a history of TCSs, the EpiWatch accurately detects TCSs, with a low FAR. EPW001.

Cerebellitis

When your child gets a cold, you expect they’ll probably have a runny nose, cough and maybe sneeze sometimes. You don’t expect to find them in bed one morning limp and unresponsive. Unfortunately, that’s how Britta and Ross found their then 2-year-old daughter Sydney in November 2024.

Symptoms and diagnosis of rare brain condition

Sydney had been showing signs of a slight cold for about a week. But when Britta went to check on her that morning in November, she knew something was wrong the moment she turned on the lights.

“She didn’t sit up. She was very lethargic. It was clear she was very sick,” she described.

The family rushed her to urgent care. The staff quickly called an ambulance to take Sydney to the Children’s Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis. When they arrived, the care team ran a series of tests, including a CT scan, an MRI, a spinal tap and an

Results showed she had a very rare case of cerebellitis, which is an inflammatory condition that affects the cerebellum, a part of the brain responsible for coordination and balance. That’s why she wasn’t moving or responding. The care team suspected it was caused by a combination of common cold viruses in her body at the same time and her brain just reacted.

Britta and Ross remembered the care team telling them the odds of this happening to their daughter were, “probably one in a million.”

As a result of the cerebellitis, Sydney’s cerebellum swelled, blocking the flow of fluid in her brain. As the fluid built up, it put pressure on her brain, a condition known as hydrocephalus.

Emergency brain surgery

Sydney’s condition was serious. She was moved to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) so she could be closely monitored. The hope was the brain swelling would eventually peak and begin to go down over five days. But on the fifth day, in the middle of the night, her breathing stopped. The care team rushed in, put in a breathing tube and told the family she needed emergency brain surgery.

During the emergency surgery, Kyle Halvorson, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Minnesota, put a device in Sydney’s skull to help drain the fluid that was building up. He also did a procedure to relieve pressure on the cerebellum and spinal cord.

“The first thing Dr. Halvorson told us after surgery was, ‘Everything went as planned.’ I began crying and hugging him. So many people saved her life,” said Britta.

And after being up all night, Britta and Ross fell asleep for a couple hours. They were woken up by the care team. Sydney needed another brain surgery.

“I just felt like my heart had been shattered and put back together so many times during all this,” Britta described. “You just keep digging for strength.”

Second brain surgery then slow recovery

The neurosurgery team explained that Sydney needed more invasive brain surgery because there was still a lot of fluid and swelling in her brain. The second brain surgery was with Meysam Kebriaei, MD, medical director of neurosurgery at Children’s Minnesota. During the second brain surgery, the drain in Sydney’s skull was adjusted to better release the extra fluid. The protective covering of her brain was also opened, and a small part of her cerebellum was removed.

After the second brain surgery, everything suggested Sydney had a great chance to get back to being the bubbly little girl her family loved. However, her road to get there was going to be slow.

Sydney spent the next four weeks in the PICU. Day by day she slowly got better. Her eye movements became more natural. After a week she gave a big smile. Eventually she was responding to requests to move her fingers and toes.

“This condition is incredibly rare, and not all patients survive,” said Dr. Kebriaei. “Our neurosurgery team, along with the teams from PICU, neurology, infectious disease, rehabilitation and so many others, joined together to do everything we knew how to care for Sydney and get her on the path to recovery. She is a very resilient girl.”

Rehabilitation for the effects of cerebellitis

While Sydney was getting better, the cerebellitis left her with significant challenges. She lost so much muscle tone she couldn’t hold her head up. She didn’t know how to swallow, had speech issues and needed help doing almost anything. The team at Children’s Minnesota recommended she go to the inpatient rehabilitation program at Gillette Children’s.

In mid-December, Sydney moved to Gillette Children’s where she received about two months of rehabilitation including daily physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech therapy. She continues her PT and OT as an outpatient at the Children’s Minnesota rehabilitation clinic in Minnetonka. Her progress has been impressive. She’s once again walking, talking, running and trying to keep up with her two big sisters.

A family's gratitude

As Sydney continues to recover, the family is thankful for the team of experts who cared for her every step of the way.

“Truly how incredibly talented and collaborative the team was at Children’s [Minnesota] and how they worked together to come up with her next steps. It consistently exceeded our expectations,” said Britta. “That was the one thing that struck us the most was all of the different areas of deep expertise and how they really came together.”

Sydney with her parents and sisters

Nick Petersen

https://www.childrensmn.org/blog/sydneys-incredible-recovery-from-rare-brain-condition-likely-caused-by-common-cold-viruses/

Baby Gabriel

The surrogate who refused to have an abortion despite the wishes of the baby’s biological parents vowed Thursday to take the legal fight all the way to the Supreme Court — with her lawyer declaring, “She is the mother.”

Lincoln Wilson, an attorney for surrogate McKenna West, told The Post she’s planning a full-throttle court battle to become the legal parent of baby “Gabriel,” who was born in the Dallas area Wednesday.

“She is seeking parentage of the child because she gave birth in Texas, and in Texas, if you give birth to a child, it’s your child,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the reason the baby’s LA-based biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed, currently have custody is because of a California order he considers “void.”

“We think that once that California judgment is removed … that basically she is the mother under Texas law,” Wilson said.

“We are taking that challenge up through the California courts, and we’ll take it up to the US Supreme Court if we have to.”

The biological parents had asked that their unborn child be aborted after he was diagnosed with a severe but treatable heart condition earlier this year.

The surrogacy contract between West, a nurse from Alaska, and the biological parents contained a clause that allowed terminations if there was an “anomaly” during the pregnancy.

But after the couple asked West to abort the fetus, she refused and instead traveled to Texas, where she would be recognized as the birth mother under state law.

Wilson said Thursday surrogacy contracts like the one in West’s case are common — but likened them to a “hitman contract.”

“These forced abortion clauses that demand that women have to be required to abort a child at the late term are quite common in surrogacy contracts,” he said.

“There’s some contracts the law doesn’t enforce. Like the law doesn’t enforce a hitman contract,” he said.

“This is basically a hitman contract, and we think that even if you accept a liberal view of abortion rights, the right to get an abortion also entails the right to not get an abortion.”

West currently has no legal authority over the baby to whom she gave birth, under a temporary restraining order filed by the couple.

The restraining order reportedly strips her of any decision-making about the infant’s care, including on medical decisions, and bars her from representing herself as a parent.

Wilson said the baby will soon undergo a series of heart surgeries at a hospital with an excellent track record.

“Within a few days, the first of three surgeries will be performed. It’s called the Norwood procedure,” Wilson said.

“But thankfully, we are at a hospital that has a 100% success rate in giving that procedure, so we know that she and well, at this point, baby Gabriel are in good hands.”

The fierce legal battle first began in April after the unborn child was diagnosed with the severe heart condition, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, at 20 weeks.

West, who named the baby Gabriel, was not allowed to see or hold the baby due to the court order.

Ahmed and Gilkar have reportedly picked a different name for the boy.

Kyra Breslin and Natalie O'Neill

https://nypost.com/2026/08/13/us-news/surrogate-mckenna-west-vows-legal-fight-against-bio-parents-she-is-the-mother/