Articles tagged with Epilepsy
Researchers discovered a link between SCN1A gene mutations and cardiac arrhythmias in epilepsy patients with Dravet syndrome, which may trigger sudden unexpected death. The study found that even after removing the mutated gene, an increase in sodium current occurred, leading to potential heart problems.
A team of researchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham has identified a sentinel area of the brain that may give an early warning before clinical seizure manifestations appear. An algorithm was also developed to automatically detect this early warning, allowing for neurostimulation of the sentinel area to potentially block seizures.
Researchers have mapped the brain regions responsible for naming objects, a process that is crucial for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The study's findings could lead to improved approaches for epilepsy and tumor surgery, reducing cognitive side effects.
A study published in Nature Communications provides new insight into the regulation of brain cell signaling, which may lead to better treatments for epilepsy and related disorders. By quantifying the interaction between two key proteins, researchers have identified a specific pattern that can be influenced to control brain activity.
A study by University of Melbourne researchers reveals that clinically relevant epileptic seizure prediction is possible in a wider range of patients than previously thought. The crowdsourcing of over 10,000 algorithms worldwide led to an average 90% improvement in seizure prediction performance compared to previous results.
A review suggests that cannabidiol, a compound in cannabis, may have modest efficacy in treating severe epilepsy, particularly in children. However, more rigorous clinical trials are necessary to fully understand its potential and minimize side effects.
A study found that children of mothers with epilepsy who took folic acid supplements had lower rates of language delays compared to those who did not take supplements. The study suggests that folic acid may be beneficial in preventing language delays for babies born to mothers with epilepsy.
Late-onset epilepsy is associated with midlife lifestyle and vascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. Conversely, moderate physical activity and alcohol intake may lower the risk of developing epilepsy.
For adults with non-index seizures, ED neuroimaging is associated with a 3% change in patient management. Clinical factors like acute head trauma, prolonged consciousness, and focal neurological examination increase the yield of imaging tests.
In a new study, researchers have identified the protein p53 as a key component in irregularly excited brain cells associated with autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. The protein's role in regulating neural excitability has significant implications for understanding these developmental disabilities.
Scientists have created a new way to selectively turn neural circuits on and off without surgery. By combining ultrasound waves, gene therapy, and synthetic drugs, researchers can noninvasively control specific brain regions and cell types. This technique has implications for treating neurological and psychiatric conditions.
A pioneering study found that Australian parents who turned to medicinal cannabis for children with epilepsy overwhelmingly considered the extracts effective. Contrary to parental expectations, most extracts contained low doses of cannabidiol (CBD), a key therapeutic element commonly used in clinical trials. The research revealed the l...
Research identifies brain-only MTOR mutations as a key factor in causing cortical malformations, intellectual disability, and developmental delay in children. The study found that disrupted ciliary formation leads to cortical dyslamination, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of FMCDs.
A team of researchers used 2-photon microscopy to visualize individual neurons during absence seizures, revealing uncoordinated firing activity instead of the expected rhythmic pattern. The study aims to better understand the underlying causes of absence epilepsy and potentially develop new treatments.
Researchers at King's College London have discovered a fundamental process by which brains are built, involving the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This finding may lead to new treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and epilepsy.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a generalized method to predict epileptic seizures using data from non-surgical devices powered by AI and machine learning. The system can alert epilepsy sufferers within 30 minutes of the likelihood of a seizure, with an accuracy rate of up to 81.4%.
Researchers at UCI School of Medicine have discovered a new pathway for developing therapies for disorders like epilepsy, anxiety, and chronic pain by understanding how GABA modulates specific ion channels. This finding opens up an entirely novel mechanism for GABA to fulfill its inhibitory role in the brain.
A study on epilepsy patients has shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can be used to predict which brain regions will be affected by the treatment. This research could lead to individualized stimulation protocols, improving treatment outcomes for conditions like depression.
A new partnership aims to explore the use of cannabidiol (CBD) and other non-psychoactive molecules from the cannabis plant to reduce seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsies. The research will also optimize the effectiveness of this approach to treat epilepsy, offering a potential new horizon for severe disabling seizures.
Researchers identified dysregulation of the gene NEUROG2 as a key factor in the development of focal cortical dysplasia, a common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy. The study found that overexpression of NEUROG2 was linked to reduced expression of microRNA hsa-miR-34a, leading to nerve cell differentiation failure.
Researchers discovered two metabolites produced by a Red Sea fungus that look promising as potential anti-seizure drugs. These compounds, pseurotin A2 and azaspirofuran A, reduced the number and length of seizures in zebrafish and mouse models of epilepsy.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky have discovered a potential target for treating epilepsy seizures: cPLA2, an enzyme that contributes to blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Blocking this enzyme may prevent changes in barrier leakage, offering new hope for patients who do not respond well to current medications.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women with epilepsy have the same fertility rates as those without, contradicting previous myths. The study of 89 women with epilepsy and 108 without found similar rates of pregnancy, miscarriages, and live births.
Researchers found that valproic acid, an antiepileptic drug, can cause birth defects in frog embryos by interfering with glutamate signaling. The study suggests that new epilepsy medications could be developed to be safer for pregnant women.
A study of 89 women with epilepsy and 108 without found that women with epilepsy had a similar likelihood of becoming pregnant, achieving live births, and experiencing low miscarriage rates. The research suggests that biological and social factors may contribute to previous findings of lower birth rates among women with epilepsy.
Advances in genetic testing have improved insights for parents of children with epileptic encephalopathy (EE), a rare and serious form of epilepsy. The study found that 10% of parents have mosaicism, which may also apply to other disorders like autism and intellectual disability.
UCalgary researchers develop a new method to discover drugs for treating epilepsy, leveraging the ketogenic diet's effect on energy production. A promising new use is found for vorinostat, a cancer treatment drug, reducing seizures in zebrafish and mouse models by 60%.
The European Commission considers a partial ban on valproate use in pregnancy amid concerns about physical abnormalities and developmental problems. Experts debate the balance between treatment efficacy and risk, highlighting the need for informed patient choice and regular review.
Researchers at Lund University discovered a new approach to treat severe epilepsy by targeting a specific brain area, reducing seizure activity. This breakthrough method, using chemogenetics, may pave the way for improved treatment options for thousands of people in Sweden affected by the disease.
A new study found that people with epilepsy in England and Wales are at a higher risk of dying from suicide and accidents. The research analyzed data from over 44,000 people with epilepsy compared to those without the condition, revealing a five-fold increase in accidental medication poisoning deaths among those with epilepsy.
Researchers identified a seizure-triggered pathway that contributes to blood-brain barrier dysfunction in epilepsy. Blocking the activity of an enzyme called cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) prevented capillary leakage and associated changes.
Scientists have discovered a mutation in the catnap2 gene that causes seizures in people with autism spectrum disorder. The mutation shrinks brain neurons' branches, disrupting message delivery and leading to seizures.
Researchers analyzed cysticercosis cases in Spain from 1997 to 2014, finding increasing hospitalizations, particularly among children under 15. The study also identified regional variations, with the Murcia region having the highest rate, and common clinical characteristics such as epilepsy and convulsions.
A large international study used neuroimaging techniques to analyze the brains of over 3,800 volunteers with different types of epilepsy. The study found that all four epilepsy subgroups displayed atrophy in sensitive-motor cortex and frontal lobe regions.
A new brain stethoscope technology has been developed that translates brain electrical activity into sounds, allowing medical professionals to detect silent seizures. Medical students and nurses were found to be remarkably accurate in identifying seizures with this tool, outperforming their traditional diagnostic abilities.
Researchers discovered a 'missing mutation' in SCN3A gene that causes severe infantile epileptic encephalopathy. Early anti-seizure medications may prevent disabling brain injury by controlling epilepsy shortly after birth.
A review of available evidence suggests that cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) may curb the frequency of epileptic seizures, particularly in children and teens with rare and severe forms of epilepsy. CBD was found to be more effective than a placebo at reducing seizure frequency by 50% or more, and improving quality of life.
A new study published in Science suggests that loss of mossy cells plays a critical role in both convulsive seizures and memory problems associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. In a mouse model, researchers found that turning on mossy cells prevented seizures from transitioning into convulsions.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine discovered that a specific set of nerve cells, known as mossy cells, controls the spread of seizures throughout the brain. Inactivating these cells facilitates the spread of electrical hyperactivity, leading to full-blown behavioral symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy.
A recent study found that learning stress-reducing techniques can significantly reduce the frequency of seizures in people with difficult-to-treat epilepsy. Participants who learned progressive muscle relaxation and breathing techniques experienced a 29% decrease in seizures, while those in the control group had a 25% reduction.
A ground-breaking partnership between Congenica and FutureNeuro aims to improve diagnosis accuracy in genetic epilepsy. The new software will work with electronic health records to provide clinicians and patients with tailored treatment decisions.
A multicenter observational study has revealed that levetiracetam is more effective than phenobarbital in treating infants with nonsyndromic epilepsy. After six months of single-drug treatment, 40% of infants treated with levetiracetam achieved a successful outcome, compared to only 16% of those treated with phenobarbital.
A new study by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers found that levetiracetam is more effective than phenobarbital in treating nonsyndromic epilepsy in U.S. infants, with 40% of treated infants experiencing no further seizures within three months.
Many epilepsy patients receive antiepileptic and non-epilepsy drugs that can interact, altering the effectiveness of one or both types of medications. The study found over 1 in 5 patients taking such combinations may experience reduced efficacy or increased toxicity.
Scientists have identified the OTUD7A gene as a key contributor to the clinical characteristics of 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome, a complex neurological condition. The study found that mice deficient in the gene Otud7a have fewer dendritic spines, which may be related to the neurological deficits observed in patients.
A University of Houston biomedical engineer has developed a new method to locate the brain's seizure onset zone in record time, reducing hospitalization time from up to 10 days to just one hour. This breakthrough could save patients weeks of treatment and improve their quality of life.
A study published in JNeurosci found that stimulating carbon dioxide-sensing neurons in the midbrain of adult male mice awakened them without affecting breathing. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms underlying obstructive sleep apnea, sudden infant death syndrome, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
A large-scale study found subtle brain abnormalities in people with epilepsy, even in those with typical seizures under control. The researchers identified reduced grey matter thickness and volume in various brain regions, including the cortex and thalamus, associated with longer duration of epilepsy.
Scientists used electrocorticograhy (ECoG) to record electrical activity on the brain surface, finding that the prefrontal cortex coordinates activity to help us act in response to a perception. The brain requires several seconds to respond to complex tasks, with the prefrontal cortex recruiting other areas, including memory networks.
Researchers found a significant increase in lifetime prevalence of mood disorders among individuals with focal epilepsy, but not generalized epilepsy. The study suggests a shared genetic susceptibility to these conditions, specifically expressed in people with focal epilepsy.
A new study suggests a shared genetic susceptibility between epilepsy and mood disorders, particularly in individuals with focal epilepsy. The study found a significant increase in lifetime prevalence of mood disorders among people with focal epilepsy compared to those with generalized epilepsy.
Researchers developed a probabilistic modeling approach using artificial intelligence techniques to predict seizure-generating brain regions from non-seizure data. This could significantly improve the accuracy and reduce the time needed for identifying these regions, potentially transforming the field of epilepsy surgery.
A small pilot study found one sign of CTE in a younger person with epilepsy, but no unique characteristics compared to other participants. Researchers suggest that tau protein deposits may not contribute to cognitive impairment in young patients with localized seizures.
Researchers found a possible genetic connection between seizures and mood disorders like depression in people with focal epilepsy, which may improve quality of life. Mood disorders were not linked to generalized epilepsy.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered monthly cycles of brain activity linked to seizures in patients with epilepsy. By analyzing data from implanted brain stimulation devices, the team identified patterns of electrical discharges known as 'brain irritability' that are associated with higher seizure risk.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital investigators found that taking topiramate in early pregnancy increases the risk of oral clefts, particularly at high doses. The risk is approximately three times higher for women who took topiramate compared to those who did not take anti-epileptic medications.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that women taking topiramate during the first trimester had a three times greater risk of giving birth to a baby with cleft lip or palate. The risk was higher for those taking high doses of the drug, and was comparable to lamotrigine.
Ben-Gurion University researchers identified a pattern of theta activity decline that predicts post-injury epilepsy development. This finding holds promise for predicting and treating the condition, as well as other neuropsychiatric complications.
New fMRI applications help researchers map verbal and visual memory in children with epilepsy, demonstrating the potential for non-invasive fMRI to assess and diagnose pediatric epilepsy. A second study showcases the ability of resting-state fMRI to assess language laterality, paving the way for expanded use as a clinical tool.
Rice University statisticians developed a method to integrate neuroimaging scans to identify patients at high risk of continued seizures before surgery. The study found a subgroup with 5.8 times greater odds of postoperative seizures due to differences in brain networks.