http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/epilepsy/ Get the facts and latest medical research on epilepsy and epileptic seizures. Information on the symptoms of epilepsy as well as the causes, treatment and medications for adult and childhood epilepsy and seizure disorders. en-us Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:05:02 EST Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:05:02 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/epilepsy/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214134938.htm A new study is revealing new information about a key protein's role in the development of epilepsy, autism and other neurological disorders. This work could one day lead to new treatments for the conditions. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:49:49 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120214134938.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/2012/02/120209172812.htm A neuropeptide called Substance P is the cause of seizures in patients with brains infected by the pork tapeworm. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172812.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175158.htm Neuroscientists and surgeons have recorded electrical activity in the temporal lobe -- the seat of the auditory system -- to discover how the brain encodes sound. Their model allows them to predict what a person heard based solely on temporal lobe activity. If, as studies suggest, internal "imagined" conversations activate similar areas of the temporal lobe, it may be possible to hear the internal verbalizations of people who cannot talk because of paralysis or stroke. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175158.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/2011/12/111227092931.htm Left-handedness is sometimes the expression of a genetic defect or an early developmental disturbance. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111227092931.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/2011/11/111115074018.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/2011/10/111020024135.htm An updated guideline on how to best treat essential tremor, which is the most common type of tremor disorder and is often confused with other movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, has just been published. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024135.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/2011/09/110921132334.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/2011/09/110909091219.htm Some people feel compelled to pet every animal they see on the street, while others jump at the mere sight of a shark on their television. No matter what your response is to animals, it may be thanks to a specific part of your brain that is hardwired to rapidly detect creatures of the nonhuman kind. In fact, researchers report that neurons throughout the amygdala respond preferentially to images of animals. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110909091219.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/2011/09/110902081654.htm Cats are known to have types of epileptic seizures in which consciousness is usually impaired although not all of the body is affected. Researchers in Austria now show that cats that suffer in this way have changes in the hippocampus, the part of the brain most commonly affected in human epilepsy. Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110902081654.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/2011/08/110822111744.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/2011/07/110718171359.htm Almost everyone has experienced one memory triggering another, but explanations for that phenomenon have proved elusive. Now, researchers have provided the first neurobiological evidence that memories formed in the same context become linked, the foundation of the theory of episodic memory. Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718171359.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 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110711081249.htm Although out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are typically associated with migraine, epilepsy and psychopathology, they are quite common in healthy and psychologically normal individuals as well. However, they are poorly understood. A new study has linked these experiences to neural instabilities in the brain’s temporal lobes and to errors in the body’s sense of itself – even in non clinical populations. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110711081249.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110706094333.htm Nanoscientists are working on a new microsystem for more efficient testing of pharmaceutical drugs to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis, MG (myasthenia gravis) and epilepsy. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110706094333.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110630131830.htm Generic anti-epilepsy drugs, pharmaceutical products similar to brand-name versions, save consumers billions of dollars each year, but some are different enough from branded formulations that they may not be effective, particularly if patients switch between two generic drugs, a new study suggests. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110630131830.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627123138.htm Researchers have identified a central switch responsible for the transformation of healthy brain cells into epileptic ones, opening the way to both treat and prevent temporal lobe epilepsy. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627123138.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623130144.htm Some individuals with epilepsy fail to respond to treatment with conventional drugs but benefit from consuming a ketogenic diet -- a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet similar to the more commonly known Atkins diet. Researchers have now identified in mice the molecular mechanism responsible for the antiepileptic effects of the ketogenic diet. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:01:01 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623130144.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623130133.htm A large-scale genome sequencing project will survey nearly all the genes encoding ion channels in hopes to better understand epilepsy. Analyzing those personal variations and how they contribute to a large picture is part of the next step in understanding unexplained epilepsy -- and many other disorders linked to ion channel diseases. An illness may not be caused by one single defective channel but rather the patterns of a group of defective channels Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:01:01 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623130133.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110621131330.htm Researchers have made a discovery that could help drug manufacturers develop new antiepileptic drugs and explore novel strategies for treating seizures associated with epilepsy. The researchers used a computational model of the cortical network to show that during seizure there is a slow and progressive buildup of intracellular sodium in neurons, and that it is this accumulation of intracellular sodium that leads to the termination of the seizure. Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110621131330.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602162822.htm New research compares effectiveness of various drugs and diets as treatments for controlling seizes often experienced by children with autism. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602162822.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602095420.htm A recent study has shown that cognitive impairment is evident early on in preschool children with epilepsy, consistent with results of similar studies in older children. Age of onset of first seizure is a significant predictor of cognitive impairment according to this study -- the first to evaluate cognitive impairment in children age three to six. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602095420.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110525164105.htm Researchers have developed a noninvasive, nonpharmaceutical treatment called trigeminal nerve stimulation to control epileptic seizures. Wed, 25 May 2011 16:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110525164105.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110517162026.htm Use of newer-generation antiepileptic drugs, which are also prescribed for bipolar mood disorders and migraine headaches, during the first trimester of pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects in the first year of life among infants in Denmark, according to a new study. Older-generation antiepileptic drugs are associated with an increased risk of birth defects. Tue, 17 May 2011 16:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110517162026.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110515201318.htm A protective molecule has been identified in the brain which, if used artificially, may prevent brain damage from the likes of stroke, head injury and Alzheimer's. Sun, 15 May 2011 20:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110515201318.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505123954.htm Scientists have used innovative new technologies to identify the gene responsible for a rare but fatal hereditary brain disorder. The discovery will make it possible to diagnose the disease through a blood test rather than a brain biopsy. Thu, 05 May 2011 12:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110505123954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426161524.htm An examination of medication adherence among children with newly diagnosed epilepsy found that nearly 60 percent showed persistent nonadherence during the first 6 months of therapy, and that lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher non-adherence, according to a new study. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110426161524.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110419121434.htm Researchers in Ireland have conducted the first study of its kind to examine in detail, the basis of psychiatric disorders which occur in people with epilepsy. The findings of this study showed similarities with the brain cell patterns in people with schizophrenia. The research gives greater insights into both conditions which may potentially lead to new treatments in the future. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110419121434.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110419003648.htm A new study found that treatment-resistant epilepsy is common in idiopathic autism. Early age at the onset of seizures and delayed global development were associated with a higher frequency of resistance to antiepileptic drugs. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110419003648.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110415083155.htm A comprehensive investigation of postmortem brain tissue has determined that one-third of the brain donors with autism also had epilepsy, and co-morbidity data revealed a higher than expected rate of mortality in individuals with both autism and epilepsy than for individuals with autism alone. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110415083155.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110413161244.htm A new drug called perampanel appears to significantly reduce seizures in people with hard-to-control epilepsy, according to results of the first clinical trial to test the higher 12 mg dose of the drug. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110413161244.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110408075031.htm Researchers have identified a new gene that predisposes people to both autism and epilepsy. The results show for the first time the role of the SYN1 gene in autism, in addition to epilepsy, and strengthen the hypothesis that a deregulation of the function of synapse because of this mutation is the cause of both diseases. Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110408075031.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110406192439.htm Epileptic seizures can precede the development of a subsequent brain tumor by many years, suggests new research. Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110406192439.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110406192422.htm Researchers have used a technique, usually associated with identifying epilepsy, for the first time to show that a computer can listen to our thoughts. The scientists demonstrated that humans can control a cursor on a computer screen using words spoken out loud and in their head. Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110406192422.htm