Articles tagged with Epilepsy
Researchers have identified 'silent seizures' in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, a discovery that could lead to new treatments. The findings suggest that these non-convulsive hippocampal seizures may contribute to or accelerate the degenerative process underlying the disease.
Oscar Alcoreza, a Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine student, has been awarded a highly competitive HHMI fellowship to devote a year to in-depth biomedical research in epilepsy. The fellowship will enable him to investigate the transition from a healthy to an epileptic brain and explore potential interventions.
The American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society have developed a new guideline to address Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which is rare but can occur in people with epilepsy. The guideline suggests that controlling seizures, especially tonic-clonic seizures, may reduce SUDEP risk.
A new study found that cannabidiol may reduce seizures by half in people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. The treatment showed great promise in reducing drop seizures and improving overall condition, but also had side effects such as decreased appetite and sleepiness.
A new study identified genes that may underlie differences in treatment outcomes for children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). The research suggests a potential link between gene variants and the effectiveness of certain drugs, paving the way for precision medicine approaches to tailor treatments.
A recent study examines social outcomes in young adults with childhood-onset epilepsy and found that those in remission had similar outcomes to their siblings. However, those not in remission were less productive in school or employment and had worse overall outcomes.
Researchers developed a model to predict which patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy will respond to drug treatment. The study analyzed genetic material and clinical data for 237 individuals, achieving accuracy rates of up to 82% in predicting patient response.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati Epilepsy Center found stress to be a common seizure trigger, increasing seizure susceptibility and risk of developing epilepsy. Stress reduction techniques like controlled deep breathing, relaxation therapy, and exercise may provide benefit as low-risk treatment options.
A nationwide Swedish study found that maternal overweight or obesity in early pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of childhood epilepsy. The risk increased by 11-82% depending on the level of maternal obesity, with grade III obesity linked to an 82% increased risk.
The study identified correlations between gene data and brain activity during memory processing, providing new insights into human memory. The researchers found that certain genes are distinct from those previously correlated with other types of cognitive processing and resting state fMRI activity.
Researchers created a mouse model to study how cerebral malaria leads to epilepsy in children and develop treatments. The model, developed by Penn State, is the first of its kind and has potential applications for preventing seizures and sudden unexplained death from epilepsy.
The International League Against Epilepsy has updated its epilepsy classification system, allowing for more informed decisions on treatment. The new system includes many types of seizures not captured in the older version, which may lead to greater advances in diagnosis and therapy.
A novel statistical approach has been developed to analyze brain activity data from patients with epilepsy, revealing distinct patterns of connectivity in the brains of those with temporal lobe epilepsy. The findings suggest that abnormal bidirectional interactions may play a role in the development of seizures.
Researchers discovered that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accelerates brain activity after a prolonged convulsive seizure, leading to harmful neural connections. Blocking GABA's effect with bumetanide may help prevent seizures and limit the severity of epilepsy.
The modified Atkins diet has been shown to reduce seizure frequency in children with Doose syndrome by at least 50%. In a recent study, 83% of children experienced this significant reduction, making it an effective treatment option for families affected by this rare form of epilepsy.
A preliminary study found that people with epilepsy are unaware of the rare but fatal complication known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which affects 1 in 1,000 adults. The study suggests that providing information about SUDEP can motivate patients to take better care of themselves and adhere to their medication.
A new study using an Apple Watch app found that seizures in people with epilepsy are often triggered by stress and missed sleep. The app, called EpiWatch, recorded participants' heart rate and movements for 10 minutes after a seizure to help researchers better understand the condition.
A collaborative study has discovered a genetic cause for myoclonic epilepsy syndrome in dogs, the DIRAS1 gene. This finding has significant implications for both veterinary diagnostics and breeding programs, as well as human epilepsy research.
A study reveals that parasitic infections, particularly with Onchocerca volvulus, may trigger the onset of Nodding Syndrome by triggering an inappropriate immune response against brain cells. This could lead to devastating epilepsy in children, with no clear cause or remedy yet discovered.
Researchers identify leiomodin-1 as a key protein in Nodding syndrome, an autoimmune disease linked to Onchocerca volvulus. The study suggests that the immune system mistakenly attacks brain cells containing this protein, leading to symptoms of the disorder.
Older adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy are often prescribed older anti-epileptic drugs, with only half starting treatment within the first 30 days. Despite this, minority groups do not appear to receive different AED treatment compared to whites.
Researchers found a significant excess of mutations in five genes previously implicated only in rare forms of epilepsy in individuals with common forms of the disorder. The study identified these genes as contributing to epilepsy risk in approximately 8 percent of people with familial non-acquired focal epilepsy.
The American Academy of Neurology published a guideline suggesting the use of brain imaging to locate language and memory functions before epilepsy surgery. The guideline found weak evidence for the effectiveness of functional MRI (fMRI) in evaluating language abilities, but moderate evidence for its potential in predicting verbal memo...
Researchers propose that visual stimulation with frequencies close to alpha rhythm can interfere with natural brain activity, leading to increased amplitude and epileptic seizures. This phenomenon is linked to the brain's dynamic properties, such as resonance, which can trigger seizures at specific frequencies.
Researchers have found that inflammation plays a role in the development of epilepsy in TSC patients and that targeting this process could be a potential therapy. Studies using a mouse model of TSC found increased levels of inflammatory molecules in brain tissue before seizure onset, which were reversed by anti-inflammatory compounds.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine used optogenetics to show that inducing synchronized activity in a specific nerve tract within the thalamus is sufficient to cause seizures, while disrupting it can terminate them. This finding may lead to improved ways of reducing or preventing absence seizures in susceptible child...
Scientists have discovered neural stem cells in epileptic brain tissue outside normal regions, suggesting greater plasticity in damaged brain areas. The study provides new knowledge about molecular characteristics of these cells and may lead to improved treatments for epilepsy.
Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered a gene network of 320 genes associated with epilepsy. The M30 network is thought to be involved in how brain cells communicate with each other and its malfunction triggers seizures. Finding medications that restore this network could provide new treatments for the condition.
A team of researchers has identified a network of genes in the brain that contribute to epilepsy, and predicts that a known anti-epileptic drug can restore its function. The study's 'network-biology' approach may provide a faster and cheaper way to discover new treatments.
A $3 million NIH grant will help UTHealth researcher Nitin Tandon decode how the brain processes written words into language. The study, using intracranial electroencephalogram (icEEG), aims to understand the mechanisms of reading and its connection to the broader language system.
A debilitating neurological disease in children has been linked to mutations in the DENND5A gene, which regulates neuronal development through control of protein movement within neuronal cells. The study found that recessive loss-of-function mutations in DENND5A cause severe mental and physical disabilities.
Veterans with Iraq-Afghanistan war-related epilepsy had substantially higher mortality rates than those without the condition. After controlling for comorbid conditions, IAVs with epilepsy were about 2.6 times more likely to die during a 5-year span.
The University of Utah Health has received a five-year contract renewal from the NIH to test drugs for treating refractory epilepsy, with the goal of identifying novel compounds. The program aims to address unmet medical needs in epilepsy patients and develop new therapies for different types of epilepsy.
BMC's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center will lead a program that aims to reach 1,000 children and youth with epilepsy through advanced telemedicine applications. The 'Telehealth Epilepsy Care Collaborative' seeks to identify signs of seizures in infants, children, and adolescents.
A study published in Neurology shows a link between mothers with rheumatoid arthritis and children with epilepsy. Children born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis were up to 90% more likely to develop epilepsy than those without RA. The study suggests changes in the environment for the fetus may play a role in developing epilepsy.
Researchers analyzed ExAC data to explore normal variation in NMDA receptors and its link to disease-causing mutations. For some patients, this information could guide anticonvulsant treatment with repurposed Alzheimer's medication.
Researchers discovered huperzine A increases resistance to induced seizures in mouse models of genetic epilepsy. The compound has been shown to protect against febrile seizures, a feature of both Dravet syndrome and GEFS+, with complete protection observed in genetically modified mice.
A Canadian study of 421 children with new onset epilepsy found poor families had similar medical courses but less favorable social outcomes as adults. Poor children experienced more failure to graduate, unemployment, and psychiatric diagnoses.
People with epilepsy are seven-fold more likely to experience discrimination due to health problems than the general population. Adverse life events such as discrimination may be an important factor in the development of depression and anxiety disorders among individuals with epilepsy.
A Clemson University scientist is studying how alterations in a complex brain pathway cause neurological disorders like autism and epilepsy. The researcher aims to determine the role of amino acid transporters in brain development.
A study published in Redox Biology found that a decreased cysteine/cystine ratio in plasma may predict the progression of epilepsy. The study used a rat model and found significant changes in the biomarker after seizures were induced, suggesting its potential as a redox biomarker for epilepsy.
Researchers at Duke University discovered a new molecular mechanism by which the brain forms memories, involving the growth of neural connections. The study's findings may lead to better understanding and treatment of diseases such as epilepsy.
Duke University scientists have identified 140 previously unknown proteins at inhibitory synapses, crucial for preventing overexcitement in the brain. The discovery opens new avenues to understanding and treating autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy.
A new study found that epilepsy surgery significantly improves seizure-free rates for patients, with 69% achieving complete freedom from seizures within a year. The procedure also proves cost-effective, with reduced antiepileptic drug use and lower direct costs over time.
A phase 3 study found that the drug everolimus significantly reduces seizure frequency in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy and TSC. Nearly half of patients had failed previous antiepileptic drugs before participating in the study.
Researchers found that levetiracetam and topiramate do not reduce IQs or thinking skills in children, unlike valproate which had lower IQ scores, averaging 11 points lower. The study suggests these newer medications are safer alternatives for pregnant women with epilepsy.
A novel inhibitory brain receptor emerges at puberty, reducing seizure-like activity and suggesting a mechanism for epilepsy remission in adolescents. This finding could lead to new treatments for childhood epilepsy.
Neuroene Therapeutics is using the Phase I STTR grant to help further develop a novel class of compounds for treating epilepsy. The company aims to provide a new generation of anti-seizure drugs that can effectively control seizures in patients with limited success from current treatments.
Researchers have developed a small device that can detect the initial signal of an epileptic attack and release a substance to stop it, all in the same area as the signal arises. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurological illnesses such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Leonidas Iasemidis leads a multi-institutional team to investigate the origins and impacts of brain seizures associated with epilepsy. The project aims to uncover the causes of seizures and their impact on higher brain functions such as memory.
A new study finds that antiepileptic drugs used to control seizures can trigger psychotic symptoms in certain individuals, particularly women and those with temporal lobe epilepsy. Researchers screened the medical records of over 2,300 patients with epilepsy and identified a link between these medications and psychosis.
Researchers discover that a mutation in the RyR2 gene, which regulates intracellular calcium, can trigger blackouts of the brainstem, increasing the risk of sudden unexpected death in people with epilepsy. This finding may help explain why some individuals with epilepsy are at higher risk for SUDEP.
A recent study published in Epilepsy and Behavior found that individuals with epilepsy have a higher annual suicide mortality rate of 22% compared to the general population. The study also revealed specific risk factors, such as increased likelihood of dying from poisoning or using residential locations for suicides.
A team of researchers developed neuroprotective compounds that prevented seizures and damaged dendritic spines in mice with experimental epilepsy. The study suggests the process of epilepsy development has been arrested up to 100 days post-treatment, offering a potential new approach to disease-modifying treatments.
Researchers created a new approach to scanning brain synapses using PET technology, revealing synaptic loss in patients with epilepsy. The technique may help diagnose and treat various disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Epilepsia Open is an international, peer-reviewed journal covering comprehensive epilepsy research, including clinical trials, imaging and pathology research. The journal aims to make original research widely available through open access publication.
A new study by CDC finds that individuals with epilepsy have a 22% higher suicide rate compared to the general population. The study analyzed data from the US National Violent Death Reporting System and found that 17 out of 100,000 people with epilepsy died from suicide each year.
Researchers will investigate how memory systems develop in the human brain using unique neuroimaging methodologies. The project aims to identify spatial and temporal dynamics of memory networks in children with medically uncontrolled epilepsy, with potential clinical applications to improve their quality of life.
Scientists have developed a new method that can accurately identify brain regions triggering seizures in people with epilepsy. The technique, using advanced mathematical modeling procedures, has shown promising results in predicting successful surgery outcomes.
A study found that 22.5% of Malaysian children with epilepsy have vitamin D deficiency, while 19.7% have insufficiency. Children taking multiple medications, having Indian ethnicity or being female are more susceptible to this issue.