Articles tagged with Epilepsy
Two studies unveil neural networks that produce and propagate seizure activity, providing information to refine surgical interventions. A third study describes a device capable of detecting and diminishing seizure activity through brief electrical stimulation.
Researchers at The Neuro compiled a detailed map of the hippocampus, improving tools for diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The new atlas provides non-invasive ways to assess therapy impact and improve patient quality of life.
A new gene therapy approach has successfully reduced the number of epileptic seizures in test animals, mimicking human temporal lobe epilepsy. The treatment involves delivering genes for neuropeptide Y and its receptors into the brain, resulting in a significant reduction in seizures for up to 80% of the animals.
A new study identified three main brain regions where abnormalities are common to all types of focal epilepsy. The findings, published in Brain Connectivity, provide valuable insights into the neural networks underlying this neurological condition.
Researchers discovered that treating newborn mice with bumetanide can almost completely prevent the disease progression and allow them to develop normally. The study suggests that timing is crucial, as treatment within the first two postnatal weeks can normalize brain activity and behavior.
Scientists have developed a technique using optogenetics to suppress nervous system activity in genetically-altered fruit fly embryos, showing promise in preventing the onset of epilepsy symptoms when treated early enough.
A study published in JAMA Network found a small increased risk of childhood-onset epilepsy among Danish children with hospital-diagnosed pertussis infections. Researchers identified 90 cases of epilepsy in the pertussis cohort, compared to 511 in the general population.
Researchers found nearly four in five patients with a specific mutation carried out blackouts, yet only 26% received correct diagnosis and treatment. The study highlights the need for proper medical attention if symptoms occur, as delayed diagnosis can be fatal.
A study of 74 children with TSC found that more extensive surgery, including the entire epileptogenic zone, yields better seizure control. The study suggests that simply resecting the tuber may not be enough, and that a larger area of surrounding tissue must also be removed to achieve optimal results.
Children with TSC who undergo more extensive surgery have improved seizure control, whereas resecting just the tuber may not be enough. The study suggests that 'the malformed cortex surrounding the tuber may contribute more to epileptogenicity as opposed to the tuber itself'.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered a potential new class of drugs that may prevent the development of temporal lobe epilepsy. A small-protein drug called pY816 was found to reduce both the likelihood and severity of epilepsy in mice after an episode of prolonged seizures.
Researchers at Penn developed a new neuroimaging method that uses glutamate detection to identify epileptic lesions in patients with medication-resistant epilepsy. The GluCEST imaging method was tested on four patients and confirmed the location of the seizures with high accuracy.
A 45-year study of 179 individuals with childhood-onset epilepsy found that patients attain excellent seizure outcomes, but often exhibit abnormal neurologic signs. These signs may be a risk factor for future stroke and cognitive impairment, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and care.
A new study of young adults with childhood-onset epilepsy found no lasting association between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. The study, published in Epilepsia, followed 257 young adults since their epilepsy onset for approximately 15 years.
Researchers at University of California, Irvine discovered that valproic acid preserves the M-current during seizures, which contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability. This finding points to new drug discovery approaches with fewer side effects.
Recent advances in genetic testing are providing new insights into pediatric epilepsy, enabling timely diagnosis of potential genetic disorders. This can lead to optimized treatment and reduced costs for families, as well as reduced anxiety associated with unknown cause cases.
Daejeon-based researcher Jeong Ho Lee of KAIST has been awarded the 2015 Pediatric Epilepsies Research Award for his groundbreaking study on brain somatic mutations as a novel cause of childhood intractable epilepsy. The award grants $250,000 in funding to support his research efforts.
Resin acids have been found to be effective in treating epilepsy by opening potassium channels and reducing nerve activity. The substances, which are fat-soluble and electrically charged, were synthesized from a natural molecule and tested on frog eggs and mice before patent applications were submitted.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that mutations in the KCC2 gene cause severe early infant epilepsy by disrupting chloride ion regulation. This imbalance leads to uncontrolled brain signals, resulting in epilepsy symptoms.
Researchers found that people with epilepsy exhibit synchronized brainwave activity when listening to music, particularly in the temporal lobe region. This phenomenon may lead to novel therapies to prevent seizures in individuals with epilepsy.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that a specific brain mutation can impair a biochemical process in the brain, leading to impaired synaptic function and contributing to neurological diseases. The researchers found that a mutation called A548T in synapsin 1a reduces its ability to regulate chemical transmission.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing a platform to collect, analyze disparate clinical information from multiple sources, ensuring comparability and reproducibility. The goal is to integrate datasets for enhanced approaches to care and treatment of conditions like epilepsy and lung cancer.
The EpSMon app analyzes risk factors and provides personalized advice, helping users take actions to lower their risks. With around 600,000 people in the UK affected by epilepsy, this innovative tool aims to fill the information gap left by NHS funding cuts for GP monitoring.
A retrospective study found that women with epilepsy have an increased risk of maternal death and adverse outcomes during delivery. The authors identified 80 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies among women with epilepsy, compared to 6 deaths per 100,000 pregnancies without epilepsy.
A team led by Professor Jozef Gecz has identified a gene mutation responsible for female-only epilepsy and found a treatment using synthetic allopregnanolone, promising to delay seizure onset and reduce autism and intellectual disability effects.
Researchers developed mobile applications to aid in everyday care for patients with epilepsy. These apps include seizure diaries, medication trackers, and alarm systems that detect epileptic seizures. Continuous EEG monitoring could also be made possible through special sensors integrated into smartphones.
A new drug, SF0034, selectively affects potassium channels in the brain to treat epilepsy and prevent tinnitus. It has shown promise in preventing seizures in animals and is being developed as a potential treatment for both conditions.
Children with epilepsy who undergo brain surgery are at a higher risk of struggling academically, according to a new study. Despite surgery stopping seizures, these children often experience lower scores in reading, spelling, and numeracy due to pre-existing brain abnormalities.
Recurrent febrile seizures warrant urgent assessment and consideration of antiepileptic drugs. The new report provides expert opinion-based recommendations until further studies consolidate higher evidence-based data.
The task force recommends avoiding valproate in pregnant women due to high risks of malformations, while ensuring those with uncontrolled seizures receive effective treatment. The guidelines prioritize shared decision-making between clinicians and patients, balancing treatment benefits and risks.
Researchers at Plymouth University have developed EpSMon, an app that helps people with epilepsy assess their risks in between visits to doctors. The app aims to encourage people to register for the safety tool to better manage their condition.
A study published in Brain Connectivity reveals that epilepsy disrupts the organization of brain networks and functional efficiency. The researchers found distinct patterns of reorganizational changes in the brains of individuals with epilepsy, including increased or decreased functional connections between brain networks.
Parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy describe their arduous journey to get referrals for surgery, highlighting delays and frustration. The study calls for interventions to target these barriers, aiming to improve access to specialty care.
A Washington, D.C., researcher has received a $130,000 award to investigate temporal lobe epilepsy and its impact on memory processing. The two-year fellowship will support the development of a standard method for using imaging scans to evaluate patients' memory functioning before surgery.
A team of French clinicians diagnosed a patient with rabies after an unusual clinical presentation despite no obvious exposure to animal bites. The strain was identified as circulating among dogs in West Africa, highlighting the risk of healthcare personnel via bodily fluids.
The new guidelines emphasize the importance of discussing treatment options with patients after a first seizure, weighing individual risks and benefits. Immediate treatment with an epilepsy drug may reduce recurrent seizures within two years, but its effectiveness decreases after three years.
A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society aims to help doctors treat the millions of people who experience their first seizure each year. The guideline found that taking epilepsy drugs immediately after a first seizure may reduce the risk of having another seizure.
A new guideline recommends administering an antiepileptic medication immediately after a first seizure to reduce the risk of another seizure within two years. The risk is highest for those with a previous brain injury or significant abnormality on imaging tests.
A team of researchers has created an organic electronic micropump that enables localised inhibition of epileptic seizure in brain tissue in vitro. The device attracts small positively charged molecules, projecting them toward the target area using electrical current.
Researchers found that those taking phenytoin had 30% less damage to the nerve fiber layer and a 34% higher macula volume compared to placebo recipients. Vision recovery was successful, but long-term visual outcomes showed no significant differences between groups.
A study found that cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component of marijuana, significantly reduced seizures in children with severe epilepsy. The drug was shown to decrease seizures by an average of 54 percent and improve convulsive seizure activity. However, side effects were reported in 6% of participants.
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation in salt-inducible kinase 1 (SIK1) that regulates myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), contributing to severe seizures. The finding may lead to better treatment options for individuals with developmental epilepsy.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute aim to identify biomarkers for accelerated drug development of disorders including autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and intellectual disability. By validating biomarkers in mice, they hope to create tools and methods for developing new therapeutics.
Researchers at KAIST identify brain somatic mutations in the MTOR gene as the cause of intractable epilepsy. These mutations are specific to the brain and can lead to permanent disabilities and death. A targeted therapy using rapamycin may offer a solution, suppressing mTOR kinase activation to lessen epileptic seizures.
Researchers at the University of Bonn have discovered a new cause of temporal lobe epilepsy: astrocyte uncoupling. This leads to hyperexcitability of neurons and epileptic seizures. The study suggests that inflammation plays a role in uncoupling astrocytes, which can be reversed at an early stage.
A seven-year study found that responsive direct cortical stimulation significantly reduced seizures by up to 60% and improved quality of life. The Long-Term Treatment Study showed that 84% of participants experienced some improvement, with 16% being seizure-free for at least three months.
A study found that retigabine, an epilepsy drug, protected the brain against ischemic stroke damage in mouse models. The medication acted directly on nerve cells to minimize damage, showing protective effects up to five days after the stroke.
Researchers discovered that coral snake venom's toxins permanently activate crucial nerve cell proteins, preventing reset and causing deadly seizures. The toxins target GABA(A) receptors, making them 100 times tighter than known compounds, leading to permanent opening of the receptor's pore.
A new survey by Henry Ford Hospital found that brain surgery for hard-to-treat epilepsy can sustain beneficial effects for up to 15 years. The study showed a significant increase in patients' ability to drive and an improvement in antidepressant use, with most patients considering their surgery worthwhile.
An international team of scientists identified sestrin-3 as a key regulator of gene networks in human epilepsy. Inhibiting sestrin-3 reduced seizures in animal models. The discovery offers promising starting points for new treatments, potentially avoiding drug resistance.
A study published in Nature Communications identified Sestrin 3 as a major regulator of the epileptic gene network, which could lead to more effective treatments. The researchers used novel computational and genetics techniques to analyze the activity of genes in epilepsy, providing new insights into the disease.
Scientists used genetic analysis and mathematical modeling to discover millimeter-sized abnormalities in brain tissue that may cause unpredictable seizures. These 'microlesions' could lead to spontaneous electrical currents causing epilepsy.
Scientists at the University of Exeter have developed a new method to diagnose epilepsy using mathematical modeling and brain electrical activity analysis. This approach reveals subtle differences in brain network properties that enhance susceptibility to seizures in people with idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
Researchers found that a specific protein's conformational defect causes Autosomal Dominant Lateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, a form of familial epilepsy. Treatment with chemical chaperone LGI1 mutant protein was shown to ameliorate seizure susceptibility in mice.
Researchers will investigate SUDEP's causes, risk factors, and potential interventions through a collaborative effort involving eight US epilepsy centers and one UK center. The grant aims to accelerate progress toward successful interventions by leveraging diverse expertise and combining large datasets.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has launched the Centers Without Walls initiative to study Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which affects 1 out of 1000 people with epilepsy annually. The project aims to identify risk factors and potential therapeutic targets to prevent SUDEP.
Drs. Alim Louis Benabid and Mahlon DeLong developed deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treating Parkinson's disease, improving motor function and quality of life for thousands of patients. Their groundbreaking research has led to the use of DBS in other disorders, benefiting over 110,000 patients worldwide.
A Swedish study found that only 3% of epilepsy surgery patients suffered lasting complications, with a downward trend over time. Despite the encouraging data, only 50-60 procedures are performed annually, highlighting the need for awareness and increase in availability throughout Europe.
A new gene has been identified as the genetic cause of a progressive form of epilepsy in nearly one-third of patients. The mutation affects a potassium channel encoding gene KCNC1, which disrupts signal transmission in the brain and causes epileptic seizures and myoclonus.
Researchers have discovered a single mutation in a gene that explains a significant proportion of unsolved cases of progressive myoclonus epilepsy. The mutation disrupts brain signal transmission, leading to epileptic seizures and muscle twitching starting in childhood.