Articles tagged with Epilepsy
CURE SYNGAP1 accelerates treatment development for SYNGAP1-Related Disorders through rigorous research and family-led leadership. The organization has funded over $8 million in grants and identified over 1,707 patients to date.
Research reveals associations between antiseizure drugs and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, with valproate and zonisamide linked to increased risks. The study highlights the need for continued monitoring of new antiseizure drugs and further evaluation of their safety during pregnancy.
A new review outlines the scientific explanations behind ketogenic diets' therapeutic benefits for epilepsy, including their ability to strengthen brain energy systems, reduce inflammation, and protect neurons. The review highlights the need for further research, particularly in adults, to develop new therapies that mirror the diet's e...
Researchers developed a new noninvasive brain stimulation technique by combining focused ultrasound with electrical stimulation, producing stronger, targeted brain responses. This approach, called transcranial electro-acoustic stimulation, clarifies conflicting results in the field and introduces a new approach to noninvasive brain sti...
A mini-review synthesizes large-scale genomic findings to illuminate the polygenic architecture underlying common epilepsies. Rare genetic variants contribute to epilepsy risk, with shared biological pathways involving ion channel function and synaptic excitability
Researchers discovered that FOXJ3 gene mutations disrupt brain layer formation, leading to drug-resistant epilepsy. The study reveals a critical link between abnormal brain development and epilepsy, identifying FOXJ3 as a key genetic and molecular cause.
Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a hidden 'movement map' deep within the brain, which could help surgeons reduce side effects from epilepsy procedures and guide future treatments for speech and movement disorders. The discovery was made using advanced brain-recording technology to create individualized maps of patients' brains.
A new medication called zorevunersen has been found to reduce seizures in children with Dravet syndrome by up to 91%, improving their quality of life and behavior. The study, led by University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, also showed the potential to reduce the impact of the condition on mental processes.
Phase 1/2a clinical trials demonstrate significant seizure reduction and improvement in symptoms of Dravet syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting cognitive function, motor skills, and behavior. The treatment, zorevunersen, targets the underlying cause of the disease by enhancing the normal SCN1A gene.
Potassium KCNQ2/3 channels need full functionality to work properly in the brain and reach their correct location. This is linked to their regulation by protein ankG. Altering channel functionality affects neuronal excitability and may contribute to developing new therapeutic strategies for epilepsy.
Dr. Dennis Lal has been appointed as the new executive director of the Center for Innovation in Health Informatics at UT Arlington, succeeding Marion Ball. He will lead initiatives on precision health, clinical AI, and health care-scale informatics.
A ketogenic diet causes physical changes in brain cells that affect how they send information to one another, dampening the strength of signals between them. This quieter neural landscape might explain how the diet calms overactive electrical signaling characteristic of epileptic seizures.
A Mayo Clinic study found that the brain enters a deep sleep state after a seizure, mimicking memory storage and strengthening disease. This phenomenon, called seizure-related consolidation, could help explain why epilepsy worsens over time and why memory and mood problems are common in people with the condition.
Researchers created a simplified, scalable human cell model to study coordinated brain rhythms. They found that inhibitory signaling mediated by GABA helped promote sleep and prevent seizures, while potassium channel perturbations influenced rhythmic organization in distinct ways.
Rice bioengineer Jerzy Szablowski has been awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship for his innovative work on noninvasive methods to communicate with the brain. He aims to develop versatile platform technologies to obtain new types of research data and treat multiple diseases.
This systematic review compares the efficacy, safety, and quality of life outcomes associated with stereoelectroencephalography-guided temporal lobe resection (TLR) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) in adults with drug-resistant TLE. Key findings include higher seizure freedom rates for TLR and better cognitive preservation with RNS.
Dr. Paul Donlin-Asp will investigate the molecular functions and regulation of local SYNGAP1 protein synthesis, aiming to advance therapies for SYNGAP1-related Disorders. The project seeks to map mechanisms controlling SYNGAP1 protein production in neurons.
The UTA Pediatric Brain Health and Neurosciences Center will focus on developing novel treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy in children. Dr. Papadelis' team has already made significant discoveries in identifying the epileptogenic zone and predicting surgical outcomes.
Researchers have developed a long, needle-thin brain electrode with channels that enables neural signal recording and precisely targeted medication delivery across different brain regions. The technology has primarily been developed for basic research but may be important for future treatments in epilepsy and other neurological diseases.
Dr. Àlex Bayés Puig advances SYNGAP1 research with a new SynGAP biomarker study funded by CURE SYNGAP1, enabling the detection of SYNGAP1 protein levels in blood cells. This breakthrough approach has the potential to transform diagnostics and clinical research for SYNGAP1 patients.
A new study suggests an experimental peptide, TXM-CB3, reduces recurring seizures and protects brain function in preclinical studies. Early treatment with the peptide shows significant benefits in reducing seizure activity and improving cognitive function.
A Swedish study of prematurely born adults found increased morbidity in physical and mental health, yet they reported a high quality of life. The study, which followed participants from birth to age 26-29, suggests that premature birth does not necessarily limit daily life.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have discovered how the keto diet protects against epilepsy seizures by regulating brain cell activity. The team found that a specific cellular receptor, HCAR2, plays a crucial role in reducing seizures, and may be targeted for new treatments.
A new UK-wide clinical trial evaluated a self-guided behavioural sleep programme for children with epilepsy, resulting in improved sleep duration of 16.5 minutes. However, the main issue was engagement, as only half of those given access to the resources used them.
Scientists at Lund University have created a new method to directly reprogram glial cells into parvalbumin neurons, which can help regulate brain activity and potentially treat disorders such as schizophrenia and epilepsy. The breakthrough could lead to therapies that replace lost or damaged brain cells in the future.
Researchers found that eradicating aging cells in mice with a combination of dasatinib and quercetin reduced senescent cells, improved memory, and decreased seizures. The study's results suggest a potential new approach to treating temporal lobe epilepsy.
A preliminary study suggests that GLP-1 drugs, used for diabetes and weight loss, may be linked to a lower risk of developing epilepsy. Researchers found an association between the use of these drugs and a reduced risk of epilepsy, with semaglutide showing the strongest correlation.
A UK-based study found that epilepsy can be a primary cause of death in people with intellectual disabilities, with those from ethnic minorities living in the UK being particularly at risk. The research highlights significant disparities in care and service provision, calling for systemic changes to prevent avoidable deaths.
A new advance in EEG imaging technology has improved mapping for epilepsy surgery, providing an accurate and non-invasive method. Pathological HFOs were found to be the most accurate biomarker for identifying epileptogenic brain regions, allowing for precise localization of seizure onset.
Researchers at USC have identified four distinct layers of specialized cell types in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus, a structure vital for memory formation. This discovery changes our understanding of how information is processed in the brain and could explain why certain cells are more vulnerable in diseases like Alzheimer's ...
The EBRAINS Summit 2025 will bring together experts to assess how neuroscience can drive medical progress, digital innovation, and responsible data use. Preliminary results from the EPINOV clinical trial, integrating virtual brain technology for epilepsy surgery planning, will be presented.
A multi-institute team led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has discovered how certain drugs used to treat epilepsy affect their target, a membrane protein found in nearly all neurons. The study provides guidance for therapeutic optimization and sheds light on a poorly understood but therapeutically important protein.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a new approach to treating drug-resistant epilepsy by mapping each patient's unique brain wave patterns. This method enables physicians to target the precise area in the brain where stimulation is most effective, moving beyond traditional one-size-fits-all treatment.
A national study reveals the US 'epilepsy belt' regions with high incidence rates, influenced by factors like sleep habits, heat exposure, health care access, and household vehicle availability. The research offers critical insights into how epilepsy impacts older adults nationwide.
Researchers from UC San Francisco have identified the superior temporal gyrus brain region responsible for tracking words in a foreign language. The study shows that this region learns to recognize word boundaries through years of experience, enabling fluent speakers to distinguish individual words.
A nonsurgical approach has been demonstrated to quiet a specific brain circuit in an animal model by delivering engineered gene therapy only to the targeted region. The method uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, allowing precise control over brain activity without impacting off-target areas.
A new contactless optical-tracking registration method has been developed to simplify robot-guided SEEG surgery, reducing positioning errors and procedure time. The study demonstrates the accuracy and ease of use of this technique, making it a promising innovation in neurosurgery.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute will study how the brain responds to neural implants. They aim to develop more stable and longer-lasting brain-computer interfaces and neuroprosthetics, which could treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and stroke.
A study published in Neurology found a significant link between heart attacks and the development of late-onset epilepsy in older adults. Researchers discovered that people who experienced a heart attack were nearly twice as likely to develop late-onset epilepsy, with a higher risk of dying from vascular causes related to the brain.
This study found 32 immune cell phenotypes associated with epilepsy risk, including B cells and regulatory T cells. Inflammatory proteins also played a role, with some increasing and others decreasing the risk of epilepsy.
A study published in Neurology found that veterans with epilepsy after a traumatic brain injury had a higher mortality rate compared to those with no prior traumatic brain injury. The risk varied by cause of the traumatic brain injury, with those with skull or facial fractures having an 18% higher risk of death.
The Mount Sinai team will investigate neural mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder and pioneer novel neuromodulation-based treatment strategies.
Researchers at Northwestern University captured a detailed look at TRPM3, a core temperature sensor, revealing how it turns on when temperatures rise. The finding uncovers a new way that cells sense temperature, helping explain how the nervous system distinguishes harmless warmth from dangerous heat.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC developed a new treatment for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The approach uses deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeted to each patient's unique brain wiring, resulting in a significant reduction in seizures, with some patients becoming seizure-free for months.
A new study led by NYU Langone Health researchers shows that almost 70% of focal epilepsy patients, considered treatment resistant, experience a reduction in their average monthly seizure frequency over three years. The study found that even those who respond poorly to initial therapies may eventually see improvement.
A new clinical trial is investigating the use of advanced brain monitoring to improve epilepsy diagnosis and management. The trial involves multiple sites across Europe, including Ireland, where patients will undergo long-term outpatient monitoring using a subcutaneous EEG system.
A team of UNLV researchers has engineered a new class of cannabidiol (CBD)-like medicines that show powerful seizure-reducing effects. The caraway-seed derived therapies offer a safer and more effective treatment for childhood seizure disorders than existing frontline therapies.
A study by UC Riverside researchers identifies a strong connection between demyelination and seizure activity in multiple sclerosis. The findings suggest targeted treatments could address the root cause of seizures without suppressing overall brain activity.
Researchers have made significant strides in understanding post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), but a therapy to prevent its development remains elusive. Studies identify key barriers, including collaboration, funding, and standardization, and propose eight recommendations to advance PTE research. Potential therapies include disease modifica...
A new study developed an advanced AI tool that can detect tiny brain lesions causing severe epilepsy in children, allowing for faster diagnosis and more precise treatment. The 'AI epilepsy detective' was trained using MRI and FDG-PET scans and showed a success rate of 94% in detecting lesions.
A large-scale study revealed that SEEG improves decision-making in temporal lobe epilepsy by identifying specific patterns like LFPS that predict better outcomes. This enhancement enables clinicians to make more precise surgical plans, particularly for patients with non-concordant imaging or suspected bilateral epilepsy.
A new study by Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche researchers reveals that brain slow waves are guided by neuronal excitability, not anatomy. The discovery uses advanced computational models to analyze local and global brain activity, shedding light on states like deep sleep and anesthesia.
Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a minimally invasive method for recording brain activity through blood vessels, offering high-fidelity recordings without the risks associated with traditional invasive approaches. This breakthrough could transform the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions like epilepsy.
A team of researchers at the University of Cologne has made a groundbreaking discovery about the molecular basis of inhibitory synapse formation. They found that gephyrin filaments play a crucial role in forming post-synapses, which are essential for billions of synapses in the brain. This study has significant implications for underst...
Researchers developed new methods to accurately target the centromedian nucleus for deep brain stimulation in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Advanced imaging techniques, such as high-resolution MRI and DTI tractography, improve targeting accuracy by identifying specific brain pathways and neural firing patterns.
Researchers found distinct effects of single disease-causing gene variants across different brain regions, pointing to hippocampal disruptions as a key factor in cognitive problems beyond seizures. This study provides an early step toward understanding why current treatments often fall short and may help identify new therapies.
A new study reveals that most epilepsy patients with focal epilepsy will still experience seizures for at least a year after starting treatment. The study suggests that neurologists should rethink their initial approach to antiseizure therapy, as many patients may not respond well to the first medication or regimen prescribed.
Researchers have found that hyperactivity in a specific brain region can drive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder. They reversed symptoms such as seizures, sensory hypersensitivity and repetitive behaviors by suppressing this area of the brain using epilepsy drugs.
Researchers found that a small, AI-powered implantable EEG can track seizures in the home environment with high accuracy. The device captured over 72,000 hours of brainwave data and detected 754 seizures, outperforming participants' self-reported records.
A £2.7 million trial will recruit 300 participants to investigate the long-term effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. The trial aims to provide evidence on VNS's clinical and cost-effectiveness, particularly for children and individuals with intellectual disabilities.