http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/epilepsy/ Read the latest medical research on epilepsy and seizures including new treatments and potential cures under development. en-us Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/epilepsy/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133238.htm Researchers link seizure resistance to a protein that modifies cellular metabolism in the brain. The findings, which shed light on the extremely low-carb ketogenic diet, may lead to the development of new treatments for epilepsy. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133238.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133057.htm Chronic pain, by definition, is difficult to manage, but a new study shows how a cell therapy might one day be used not only to quell some common types of persistent and difficult-to-treat pain, but also to cure the conditions that give rise to them. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509165341.htm How well people with newly diagnosed epilepsy respond to their first drug treatment may signal the likelihood that they will continue to have more seizures, according to a new study. Wed, 09 May 2012 16:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509165341.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502112709.htm Although the two disorders may seem dissimilar, epilepsy and psychosis are associated. Individuals with epilepsy are more likely to have schizophrenia, and a family history of epilepsy is a risk factor for psychosis. It is not known whether the converse is true, i.e., whether a family history of psychosis is a risk factor for epilepsy. Wed, 02 May 2012 11:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502112709.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502091927.htm Scientists have conclusive evidence about the harmful effects of the accumulation of glucose chains (glycogen) in fly and mouse neurons. These two animal models will allow scientists to address the genes involved in this harmful process and to find pharmacological solutions that allow disintegration of the accumulations or limitation of glycogen production. Wed, 02 May 2012 09:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502091927.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430124715.htm Neuropathic pain is the culprit behind many cases of chronic pain, resistant to common drugs. A new drug inhibits the transmission of pain signals throughout the body, protecting against not only neuropathic pain but also epileptic seizures, new study suggests. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430124715.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426135230.htm Scientists have unraveled a process by which depletion of a specific protein in the brain contributes to the memory problems associated with Alzheimer's disease. These findings provide new insights into the disease's development and may lead to new therapies that could benefit the millions of people worldwide suffering from Alzheimer's and other devastating neurological disorders. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426135230.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426134933.htm The ability to navigate using spatial cues was impaired in mice whose brains were minus a channel that delivers potassium — a finding that may have implications for humans with damage to the hippocampus, a brain structure critical to memory and learning, according to an expert. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426134933.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426104851.htm They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Fortunately, this is not always true. Researchers have now discovered how the adult brain can adapt to new situations. Their study may be significant in developing treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426104851.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120422135000.htm A key protein, which may be activated to protect nerve cells from damage during heart failure or epileptic seizure, has been found to regulate the transfer of information between nerve cells in the brain. The discovery could lead to novel new therapies for stroke and epilepsy. Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120422135000.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418203532.htm A new type of anti-epilepsy medication that selectively targets proteins in the brain that control excitability may significantly reduce seizure frequency in people whose recurrent seizures have been resistant to even the latest medications, new research suggests. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418203532.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416125202.htm Your chance of developing epilepsy at some point in your life is one in 26, according to a new study. Onset is highest in children and older adults. But epilepsy knows no boundaries —- it can strike at any age and across all socio-economic levels and ethnicities. There is no known cure and one-third of people with epilepsy have treatment-resistant or refractory epilepsy. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416125202.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120413145220.htm When Dr. Irene Gatti de Leon slipped on the ice and bumped her head, she wasn't too concerned. But two months later, she experienced weakness in her right leg and right arm, and was in imminent danger of suffering permanent disability similar to a stroke. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120413145220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120411132055.htm Scientists have discovered a mutation limited to brain tissue that causes hemimegalencephaly, a condition where one half of the brain is enlarged and dysfunctional, leading to intellectual disability and severe epilepsy. The research has broad significance as a potential model for other complex neuropsychiatric diseases that may also be caused by "brain-only" mutations. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120411132055.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120410145913.htm Based on their clinical experience and observations, physicians and psychologists say that more than one-third of the patients admitted to The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit for treatment of intractable seizures have been discovered to have stress-triggered symptoms rather than a true seizure disorder. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120410145913.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403171931.htm Biomedical engineers have devised seizure detection software to significantly cut the number of unneeded electrical pulses an epilepsy patient receives from brain implants. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403171931.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094146.htm Vaccines for measles were not associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures among 4-6 year olds during the six weeks after vaccination, according to a new study. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094146.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329170439.htm A type of cell plentiful in the brain, long considered mainly the stuff that holds the brain together and oft-overlooked by scientists more interested in flashier cells known as neurons, wields more power in the brain than has been realized, playing a key role in reducing or stopping the electrical signals that are considered brain activity. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:04:04 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329170439.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120323205337.htm A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. This research opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans. Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120323205337.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120307094655.htm The majority of people suffering with drug-resistant epilepsy see surgery as a last resort. But researchers now show that early surgical intervention followed by antiepileptic drugs stop seizures, improve quality of life, and help avoid decades of disability. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:46:46 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120307094655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131644.htm An new article reviews evidence that yoga may be effective in treating patients with stress-related psychological and medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and cardiac disease. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:16:16 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131644.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215185844.htm A mutli-site study offers paramedics a better tool for treating seizures -- autoinjectors were found to be a safe, effective alternative to giving drugs by IV. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215185844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215142952.htm Medical researchers have developed a new class of drugs that suppress absence seizures, a symptom of epilepsy most commonly experienced by children. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215142952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214122031.htm Scientists have identified a new group of compounds that may protect brain cells from inflammation linked to seizures and neurodegenerative diseases. The compounds block signals from EP2, one of the four receptors for prostaglandin E2, which is a hormone involved in processes such as fever, childbirth, digestion and blood pressure regulation. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214122031.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126223607.htm Researchers have discovered that the most common receptor for the major neurotransmitter in the brain is also present in the eye, which may explain links between cataracts, epilepsy and use of a number of antiepileptic and antidepressant drugs. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:36:36 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126223607.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120117145459.htm Researchers have come a step closer to unlocking a mystery that causes epileptic seizures in babies. Benign familial infantile epilepsy has been recognized for some time as infantile seizures, without fever, that run in families but the cause has so far eluded researchers. However, clinical researchers have now discovered a gene. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:54:54 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120117145459.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110151714.htm A new study finds that low concentrations of the chemical methylisothiazolinone has subtle but measurable negative effects on the neural development of tadpoles. The chemical is found in some cosmetics, although the study does not provide any evidence that cosmetics are unsafe for humans. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:17:17 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110151714.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104174808.htm New guidelines will help physicians better choose seizure drugs for people on HIV/AIDS medication, avoiding deadly drug interactions and preventing critical anti-HIV drugs from becoming less effective, possibly leading to a more virulent strain of the disease. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:48:48 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104174808.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111229131354.htm New research indicates that glia cells are "the brain's supervisors." By regulating the synapses, they control the transfer of information between neurons, affecting how the brain processes information. This new finding could be critical for technologies based on brain networks, as well as provide a new avenue for research into disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:13:13 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111229131354.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111216174436.htm Scientists have identified the gene that causes a rare childhood neurological disorder called PKD/IC, or "paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia with infantile convulsions," a cause of epilepsy in babies and movement disorders in older children. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:44:44 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111216174436.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214162101.htm About one-third of Americans with epilepsy do not have good seizure control. Researchers now have dispelled the myth that all drug treatments are equally ineffective for such patients. By examining 30 years of patient records at two Washington state institutions for the developmentally disabled, researchers found a combination of two common drugs, lamotrigine and valproate, reduced seizure frequency by half, on average, compared to 32 other drug combinations. Adding a third drug provided no additional benefit. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:21:21 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214162101.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213185652.htm About half of newborns who have seizures go on to have long-term intellectual and memory deficits and cognitive disorders such as autism, but why this occurs has been unknown.Researchers now detail how early-life seizures disrupt normal brain development, and show in a rat model that it might be possible to reverse this pathology by giving certain drugs soon after the seizure. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:56:56 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213185652.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212153133.htm Drawing on X-ray crystallography and experimental data, as well as a software suite for predicting and designing protein structures, a researcher has developed an algorithm that predicts what has been impossible to generate in the laboratory: the conformational changes in voltage-gated sodium channels when they are at rest or actively transmitting a signal in muscle and nerve cells. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212153133.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212093740.htm Researchers have developed a new method for detailed analyses of electrical activity in the brain. The method can help doctors and researchers to better interpret brain cell signals. In turn, this may lead to considerable steps forward in terms of interpreting for example EEG measurements, making diagnoses and treatment of various brain illnesses. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212093740.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123132816.htm A substance in medicines for cancer and epilepsy could also prevent heart attacks, according to researchers, who have been using it to stimulate the body's own defense system against blood clots. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123132816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115074018.htm New research reveals that patients with epilepsy who were treated for extended periods with older generation antiepileptic drugs may be at increased risk for developing atherosclerosis, a common disorder known as hardening of the arteries. According to the findings, the vascular risk is significantly associated with the duration of AED monotherapy. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115074018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111113141405.htm Scientists have developed and tested a new high-resolution, ultra-thin device capable of recording brain activity from the cortical surface without having to use penetrating electrodes. The device could make possible a whole new generation of brain-computer interfaces for treating neurological and psychiatric illness and research. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111113141405.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111025091539.htm Brain damage due to birth asphyxia – where the brain is starved of oxygen around the time of delivery – is normally treated by cooling the infant, but this only helps one baby in nine. New research Sweden could now pave the way for new ways of treating brain damage in newborns. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111025091539.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018121838.htm New research successfully reverses epilepsy-associated pathology by using a sophisticated single-cell modeling paradigm to examine abnormal cell behavior and identify the optimal modulation of channel activity. The study describes a procedure that may be useful for rescuing function in organs with excitable cells, such as the heart and pancreas. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018121838.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003161644.htm Being born prematurely may increase your risk of developing epilepsy as an adult, according to a new study. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003161644.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122749.htm Scientists have created a mouse model for autism that opens a window into the biological mechanisms that underlie the disorder and offers a promising way to test new treatment approaches. The research found that autistic mice display remarkably similar symptoms and behavior as children and adults on the autism spectrum. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122749.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122745.htm Mice with a defective version of a single gene show behaviors and symptoms that are remarkably similar to characteristics observed in humans with autism spectrum disorders. The animals also respond similarly to an FDA-approved drug used to treat repetitive behaviors in people with autism. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929122745.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928142444.htm Drug companies sponsoring human trials of possible new medications have ethical responsibilities to study participants and to science to disclose the results of their clinical research -- even when product development is no longer being pursued. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110928142444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921132342.htm Neuroscientists have succeeded in creating what amounts to a GPS system for locating and tracking GABA inhibitory neurons, a vital class of brain cells that until now has eluded comprehensive identification, particularly in living animals. 20 mouse lines provide views of cortical GABA neurons not previously possible. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921132342.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921132334.htm Zinc has been found to play a critical role in regulating communication between cells in the brain, possibly governing the formation of memories and controlling the occurrence of epileptic seizures. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921132334.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919074244.htm Researchers from Taiwan have confirmed a bidirectional relation between schizophrenia and epilepsy. The study reports that patients with epilepsy were nearly eight times more likely to develop schizophrenia and those with schizophrenia were close to six times more likely to develop epilepsy. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919074244.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912075652.htm New research shows that febrile seizures in children may be linked to respiratory alkalosis, indicated by elevated blood pH and low carbon dioxide levels caused by hyperventilation, and independent of the underlying infection severity. Febrile seizures were not observed in susceptible children with fevers brought on by gastroenteritis, suggesting that low blood pH levels (acidosis) may have a protective effect. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912075652.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110911145157.htm Brain tumors called gliomas are often associated with seizures, but why the seizures occur and how to effectively treat them have been elusive. A research team has found that human gliomas implanted in mice release excess levels of the brain chemical glutamate, overstimulating neurons near the tumor and triggering seizures. Sulfasalazine, a drug on the market for treating certain inflammatory disorders, reduced seizures in the mice. Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:51:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110911145157.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110908091027.htm The discovery that low-intensity, pulsed ultrasound can be used to noninvasively stimulate intact brain circuits holds promise for engineering rapid-response medical devices. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:10:10 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110908091027.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110905160900.htm Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures may go undiagnosed for much longer in veterans compared to civilians, according to a new study. This type of seizure is different from seizures related to epilepsy and is thought to have a psychological origin. Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110905160900.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831205926.htm New research suggests brain tumor patients who take the seizure drug valproic acid on top of standard treatment may live longer than people who take other kinds of epilepsy medications to control seizures. Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831205926.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829113437.htm Short-term energy storage in animal cells is usually achieved through the accumulation of glucose, in the form of long and branched chains, known as glycogen. But when this accumulation happens in neurons it is fatal, causing them to degenerate. This neuronal deterioration and death associated with glycogen accumulation is the hallmark of an extremely rare and progressive type of epilepsy known as Lafora disease (LD). Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829113437.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110822111744.htm Researchers have identified a brain-circuit defect that triggers absence seizures, the most common form of childhood epilepsy. Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110822111744.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110802184544.htm Older people taking new generation antidepressants are at more risk of dying or suffering from a range of serious health conditions including stroke, falls, fractures and epilepsy, a new study suggests. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110802184544.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110801120353.htm Using state-of-the-art, 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, researchers may have uncovered a better approach to diagnosing epilepsy. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110801120353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110729175353.htm New research focusing on high-frequency oscillations, termed ripples and fast ripples, recorded by intracranial electroencephalography, may provide an important marker for the localization of the brain region responsible for seizure activity. According to the study the resection of brain regions containing fast ripples, along with the visually-identified seizure-onset zone, may achieve a good seizure outcome in pediatric epilepsy. Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110729175353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110727203844.htm A new epilepsy gene, LGI2, has been found in the Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, known from their gift for truffle hunting. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:38:38 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110727203844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721095849.htm Two-thirds of people with severe and otherwise untreatable epilepsy were completely cured of their frequent seizures after undergoing neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, according to a new study that examined 143 of these patients two years after their operations. Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110721095849.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720085822.htm An existing anti-seizure drug improves memory and brain function in adults with a form of cognitive impairment that often leads to full-blown Alzheimer's disease. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720085822.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714072944.htm A recent multi-center study determined that women with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) had a greater number of seizures during anovulatory cycles -- menstrual cycles where an egg is not released -- than in cycles where ovulation occurs. According to the study, reproductive steroids may play a role in GTCS occurrence. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714072944.htm