The study found that epilepsy-associated disability-adjusted life years were concentrated in low- and lower-middle-income countries, with significant regional inequality. Progress has been made in China, including declining mortality rates, but challenges persist, particularly in rural areas where treatment gaps reach 60%–90%.
Researchers at Texas Children's Hospital have uncovered a novel biological pathway that can lead to seizures when disrupted. This finding provides a new approach for improving genetic diagnosis and treatment for epilepsy cases with unknown origins. The study also reveals that specific combinations of defective genes can cause seizures,...
Researchers used base editing to correct the SCN8A gene mutation responsible for severe inherited epilepsy. The approach successfully eliminated or reduced seizures and improved brain function in lab mice, offering new hope for treating genetic epilepsies.
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 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.
A new clinical trial will evaluate whether adding ketamine to standard treatment can improve outcomes for patients suffering from status epilepticus. The trial, called KESETT, hopes to determine whether ketamine can terminate the seizures in more patients than current treatments.
Researchers at UVA Health System have made a breakthrough discovery about the role of microglia in seizure disorders. The study suggests that enhancing microglial activity could be a promising approach to preventing and managing seizures, offering new hope for patients who don't respond to existing treatments.
A new study identifies several cytokine markers associated with poor prognosis in New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) patients. The researchers found that the concentration of these inflammatory proteins was higher in NORSE patients than controls, and their increase was correlated with short-term and long-term neurological ...
A recent study published in Seizure found that over 40% of status epilepticus patients suffer from adverse outcomes, including a 9% risk of death. The researchers developed two prognostic scores, STESS and EMSE, which can accurately predict mortality risk in the emergency room.
A new study reveals that levetiracetam, fosphenytoin, and valproate are equally safe and effective in treating patients with refractory status epilepticus, a life-threatening condition characterized by prolonged seizures. The three drugs stopped seizures and improved responsiveness in approximately half of the study participants.
A new Finnish study found that nearly half of patients with refractory status epilepticus (RSE) recovered to baseline function within a year. The study analyzed data from a population-based cohort and showed a mortality rate of 25% for RSE patients and 36% for super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) patients.
In a clinical trial, the ketogenic diet was found to be a safe and effective treatment option for adults with super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE), a rare and severe form of epilepsy. The diet was shown to stop seizures in 79% of patients, with eight recovering within a week.
A Northwestern University study found that a class of drugs inhibiting estrogen production can quickly and effectively suppress brain seizures. The effect was profound and clear, suggesting a new approach to treating seizures by shutting down the brain's production of estrogen when a seizure first begins.
The American Epilepsy Society has released a new guideline to help physicians effectively treat patients with prolonged seizures. The guideline recommends a three-phase approach to treatment, prioritizing rapid termination of seizure activity to reduce neurological injuries and deaths.
Researchers have found that continuous intravenous infusions may not be appropriate for all patients with drug-resistant status epilepticus, while a sedative called ketamine is increasingly used as a treatment option. The duration of status epilepticus in children depends on factors such as the length of time between seizure onset and ...
Researchers at UC Davis and Northwestern University have found an investigational medication to effectively treat children with life-threatening seizures, resolving symptoms without adverse effects. The medication, a formulation of allopregnanolone, showed promising results in two clinical cases, where patients were weaned off general ...
A novel biomarker predicts which individuals will develop epilepsy after febrile seizures, according to a UC Irvine study. The diagnostic ability could lead to improved use of preventive therapies for the disorder.
A recent study published in JAMA found that lorazepam, a commonly used but not yet FDA-approved drug for children, is no more effective than an approved benzodiazepine, diazepam, in treating pediatric status epilepticus. The study enrolled 310 children and found both medications successfully halted seizures in 70 percent of cases.
A randomized trial involving 273 pediatric patients with convulsive status epilepticus found that lorazepam was not more effective than diazepam in stopping seizures, but did cause more sedation. The study suggests that diazepam remains a suitable first-line treatment for pediatric status epilepticus.
A new study published in Epilepsia found that early treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) significantly reduces the duration of febrile seizures. The research suggests that a standard Emergency Medical Services (EMS) treatment protocol is needed in the US to improve outcomes for children with prolonged seizures. A total of 199 pedi...
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified a receptor, TrkB, that may be key to preventing epilepsy. The study found that inhibiting TrkB with a drug can prevent the onset of epilepsy in mice after prolonged seizures.
Researchers have discovered a promising approach to prevent the development of temporal lobe epilepsy in mice with just two weeks of treatment. Inhibiting the BDNF receptor TrkB after an initial seizure can exert long-term protective effects, preventing epilepsy and associated anxiety behaviors.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered a potential lead compound that can reduce mortality when given to mice after drug-induced seizures. The compound, TG6-10-1, blocks signals from prostaglandin E2, which is involved in the toxic inflammation in the brain arising after status epilepticus.
A study sponsored by NIH found that intramuscular injection of anticonvulsant drugs, like midazolam, is as safe and effective as giving medicine directly into a vein. This method may be faster and more reliable, especially for patients having convulsions, reducing the risk of severe consequences if seizures are not stopped quickly.
The new guideline aims to improve diagnosis and treatment of status epilepticus in children with epilepsy. It recommends considering anti-epileptic drug levels and performing an EEG to determine the cause of continuous seizures.
Researchers found propofol to be an effective treatment for continuous seizures in children, controlling seizures in 14 out of 22 patients. Propofol was preferred over thiopental due to lower side effects and fewer respiratory problems.
A new study shows that paramedics can effectively treat patients with acute and prolonged seizures using injections of benzodiazepines. Lorazepam was found to be more effective in stopping seizures than diazepam, with 59% of patients responding to the treatment.