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 Mon, 12 May 2008 21:05:01 EDT Mon, 12 May 2008 21:05:01 EDT 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/2008/05/080512094451.htm A mutated gene has been discovered as the key behind epilepsy and mental retardation specific to women. The new discovery, published in Nature Genetics, shows that although men carry the 'bad' gene, only women are affected. Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512094451.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428162552.htm Young women who took the commonly used epilepsy drug phenytoin for one year showed significant bone loss compared to women taking other epilepsy drugs, according to a new study in Neurology. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428162552.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417145752.htm A first of its kind study finds breastfeeding while taking certain seizure medications does not appear to harm a child's cognitive development. Researchers tested the cognitive development of 187 two-year-old children whose mothers were taking the epilepsy drugs lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or valproate. Forty-one percent of the children were breastfed. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417145752.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080414102411.htm Using a rodent model of epilepsy, researchers found one of the body's own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain. Researchers say this may explain why approximately 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic medications. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080414102411.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416140934.htm For people with chronic epilepsy, little is known about the impact of aging on the course of cognitive and brain health, the prevalence of clinical disorders of aging (mild cognitive impairment, dementia), or the disease burdens and risk factors associated with abnormal cognitive and brain aging. A new article presents data that suggest several reasons for concern. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416140934.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194422.htm Many physicians prescribe anti-epileptic medications to patients with brain tumors, even to those with no seizure history. Now, a new review of studies casts doubt on the wisdom of using these drugs -- which can carry serious side effects -- to prevent a first seizure in these patients. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415194422.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408132158.htm Researchers describe a next step in this research that may mean a drug already widely used by people with diabetes could also be an effective and safe therapy for epilepsy, especially for that one third of patients who have recurrent seizures despite therapy with the best available antiepileptic drugs. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408132158.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403212256.htm Current medications for seizures are comparable to over-the-counter cold and flu remedies: They block symptoms, but don't significantly affect the underlying illnesses that cause them. Now scientists have taken the first step toward developing another option. They've used a drug to prevent the brain abnormalities that lead to seizures in mice with an inherited form of epilepsy. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403212256.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325125933.htm An increased number of neuron "hubs" in the epileptic brain may be the root cause for the seizures that characterize the disorder, according to a new study. Scientists have identified that these hubs -- a small number of highly connected neurons -- are formed in the hippocampus during the transition from a healthy brain to an epileptic one. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325125933.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080309204439.htm Scientists have identified the structure of a receptor in the brain implicated in conditions such as epilepsy and pre-menstrual tension. The same receptor has also been reported to be highly sensitive to alcohol. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080309204439.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228124412.htm Researchers have found a gene responsible for a particularly debilitating form of epilepsy that also leads to kidney failure. Epilepsy is overall a common condition, affecting some two percent of people. The genetics behind the seizure disorder are often complex. However, progressive myoclonus epilepsies, which Berkovic said can be quite disabling and tend to get worse over time, usually have a simpler, Mendelian pattern of inheritance caused by a variety of single genes. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228124412.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080214172701.htm It was no way for an 11-year-old to live. For a month the boy had endured daily episodes of uncontrollable jerking and foaming at the mouth, and his physicians were concerned that the boy had epilepsy. Before starting the boy on a lifetime of anti-seizure medications, though, they turned to an unconventional diagnostic tool: hypnosis. Researchers used hypnosis to evaluate nine children prone to seizures and found that the technique could help them determine whether the children had epilepsy. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080214172701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172647.htm Contrary to some reports, the epilepsy drug oxcarbazepine does not appear to prevent migraine, according to new research in Neurology. Researchers found no difference between the oxcarbazepine and placebo groups in the change in the number of migraine attacks from the beginning to the end of the study. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172647.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124161624.htm Scientists have discovered that mice genetically engineered to lack a particular protein in the brain have profound deafness and seizures. The finding suggests a pathway, they say, for exploring the hereditary causes of deafness and epilepsy in humans. Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124161624.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080128113325.htm A modified version of a popular high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can significantly cut the number of seizures in adults with epilepsy, a new study suggests. The Atkins-like diet, which has shown promise for seizure control in children, may offer a new lifeline for patients when drugs and other treatments fail or cause complications. Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080128113325.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080102222925.htm The brain of individuals who suffer from epilepsy is characterized by pathologic changes to brain cells known as astrocytes. Little is known about how astrogliosis relates to the dysfunction of neurons in individuals with epilepsy, but understanding this could lead to new possibilities for therapeutic intervention. A study using mice has now identified the protein ADK in astrocytes as a molecular link between astrogliosis and neuronal dysfunction in epilepsy. Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080102222925.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071220172129.htm Not all individuals who have epilepsy respond to traditional treatments. Strict adherence to a ketogenic diet high in fats and extremely low in carbohydrates is sometimes used to treat these patients. A new study shows that intranasal delivery of leptin, a hormone important in feeding and energy metabolism, delays the onset of convulsions in rodents, leading to the suggestion that leptin-triggered signaling may be a key to how a ketogenic diet combats epilepsy. Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071220172129.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219122855.htm Scientists have corrected key symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice. They have significantly alleviated a wide range of abnormalities due to fragile X syndrome by altering only a single gene, countering the effects of the fragile X mutation. Fragile X syndrome, affecting 100,000 Americans, is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation and autism. New research points to a potential drug treatment. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219122855.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071213120931.htm It is possible to suppress the development of epilepsy in genetically predisposed animals, which could open the door to treating epilepsy as a preventable disease. Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that affects about 50 million people worldwide. Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071213120931.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071206222634.htm Following ground-breaking research showing that neurons in the human brain respond in an abstract manner to particular individuals or objects, researchers have now discovered that, from the firing of this type of neuron, they can tell what a person is actually seeing. The original research showed that one neuron fired to, for instance, Jennifer Aniston, another one to Halle Berry, another one to the Sydney Opera House, etc. Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071206222634.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071128163257.htm A popular epilepsy drug taken by pregnant women with epilepsy because of its mild risk of birth defects has been linked to increased seizure activity in up to 75 percent of pregnancies. Now, new research shows that monitoring the level of the drug in the blood helps to reduce the increased seizure activity associated with the drug lamotrigine and improve the overall health of pregnant women and their fetuses. Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071128163257.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071129151109.htm Scientists have discovered a new way to separate the therapeutic benefits of cannabis from its mood-altering side-effects. Cannabis contains a chemical called THC, which binds to, and activates, proteins in the brain known as 'CB1 cannabinoid receptors'. Activating these receptors can relieve pain and prevent epileptic seizures; but it also causes the mood-altering effect experienced by people who use cannabis as a recreational drug. Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071129151109.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112163616.htm Asking patients with focal epilepsy (also known as partial seizures, which usually involve focal areas of the body and altered consciousness) how often they have seizures does not appear to provide an accurate count, according to a new report. Reminding patients to record their seizures in a diary may not help, because patients may be unaware of some seizures. Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112163616.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119170233.htm A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology recommends a routine electroencephalogram and brain scans be considered when diagnosing and treating adults who experience their first unprovoked seizure. Evidence shows such tools often detect brain abnormalities that caused the seizure and predict seizure recurrence. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119170233.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071104191543.htm Inheriting two genetic mutations that can individually cause epilepsy might actually be 'seizure-protective,' said researchers. "In the genetics of the brain, two wrongs can make a right," said one of the scientists "We believe these findings have great significance to clinicians as we move toward relying upon genes to predict neurological disease." Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071104191543.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172928.htm A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology recommends immediate brain CT scans to screen certain emergency room patients with seizures. Evidence shows such scans can help doctors select the right treatment option. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172928.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172818.htm For some epilepsy patients, the condition's side effects can be as troubling as the seizures. One pressing concern is potential cognitive impairment from seizures, which can include memory loss, slowed reactions and reduced attention spans. Now researchers have linked such cognitive impairments to structural changes in brain cells caused by seizures. They report that the insights they gained allowed them to use a drug to block those changes in the brains of laboratory animals. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172818.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071025080847.htm The use of antiepileptic drugs can lead to decreased fertility and increased incidence of reproductive endocrine disorders in both men and women. The study finds that reproductive endocrine dysfunction resulting from AED use is reversible, even after years of treatment. Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071025080847.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023163853.htm For the first time, researchers are able to pinpoint brain waves that distinguish true from false memories, providing a better understanding of how memory works and creating a new strategy to help epilepsy patients retain cognitive function. Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023163853.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071022094524.htm Scientists still do not know what causes epileptic seizures, but researchers are one step closer to solving this puzzle with the help of their newly developed genetically modified epileptic mouse. Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071022094524.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071021142327.htm A phenomenon considered healthy for cells, such as the accumulation of long chains of glucose (glycogen), which tissues store for energy purposes, is harmful for neurons. The researchers made the discovery while studying Lafora disease, a rare pathology that causes irreversible neurodegeneration in adolescents and for which no treatment is available. Understanding the mechanisms that trigger and block the production of glycogen may be of great use to address the study of other neurodegenerative and neurological diseases. Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071021142327.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016101445.htm Scientists propose that blood may help us think, in addition to its well-known role as the conveyor of fuel and oxygen to brain cells. The new theory has implications for understanding brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071016101445.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071015193529.htm The epilepsy drug lamotrigine is effective in controlling partial seizures when taken once a day as an added therapy, according to a new study. The study involved 239 people from the United States and several other countries. Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071015193529.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003100557.htm The mutation in a single gene can cause epilepsy in infants. Infants are more susceptible to seizures because their brains are developing at a rapid rate, making their brain cells 'excitable'. Their neurons are growing and making new connections with other nerve cells, which can disrupt normal brain activity and results in epilepsy. Infants have protective mechanisms in their brains to control this excitability, but now the Florey scientists have uncovered that a single gene mutation prevents a specific ion channel from functioning correctly, thus causing excitability which results in epilepsy. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071003100557.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070911145600.htm A history of maternal epilepsy and its associated treatment may be linked to impaired intelligence later in life, says a new study.Researchers investigated the IQ levels of sons born to mothers with and without epilepsy, and found a correlation between intelligence and the illness. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070911145600.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070910132445.htm A small device implanted in the skull that detects oncoming seizures, then delivers a brief electrical stimulus to the brain to stop them is under study. Participants have a device implanted in the skull, with up to two wires containing electrodes placed near the seizure focus. A modified laptop computer looks at electrical activity picked up by the neurostimulator, then is used to program the device to recognize a patient's seizure activity. Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070910132445.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070820161811.htm People with epilepsy who experience multiple auras, sensations such as a cold breeze or bright light before they have a seizure, may be good candidates for epilepsy surgery because their seizures seem to be coming from one area of the brain, according to a new study. Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070820161811.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070812092719.htm The unusual case of a woman who heard voices with her own speech impairments in her head after a bicycle accident is examined in The Lancet. Four months after the accident she began to hear her own thoughts aloud and also hallucinated the voices of hospital staff -- in short sentences and single words, just as with her speech problems. She believed the voices to be external and real. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070812092719.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070807180627.htm Researchers have developed new miniature devices designed to be implanted in the brain to predict and prevent epileptic seizures, and a nanotech sensor for implantation in the eye to treat glaucoma. Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070807180627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805161035.htm The discovery of a novel molecular switch that powerfully modulates nerve cell activity offers the potential for new mood disorder and epilepsy treatments researchers report. The study shows a link between gut protein and the brain's natural marijuana-like compounds. Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805161035.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731154917.htm Neuroscientists have long believed that vision is processed in the brain along circuits made up of neurons, similar to the way telephone signals are transferred through separate wires from one station to another. But scientists have now discovered that visual information is also processed in a different way, like propagating waves oscillating back and forth among brain areas. Sat, 04 Aug 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731154917.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070726142003.htm An implanted stimulator being studied at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, may be able to predict and prevent seizures before they start in people with uncontrolled epilepsy. Researchers are enrolling patients in a study of the Responsive Neurostimulator System made by Neuropace, to determine if it is effective in stemming seizures. The system contains a computer chip that detects seizures and then delivers electric current to the brain to stop them. Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070726142003.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070719093320.htm Our experiences -- the things we see, hear, or do -- can trigger long-term changes in the strength of the connections between nerve cells in our brain, and these persistent changes are how the brain encodes information as memory. Researchers have discovered a new biochemical mechanism for memory storage, one that may have a connection with addictive behavior. Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070719093320.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070716190837.htm New research provides strong evidence for a novel type of communication between nerve cells in the brain. The finding may have relevance for the prevention and treatment of epilepsy, and possibly in the exploration of other aspects of brain functions, from creative thought processes to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. The discovery suggests the first new model of brain function since the 1940s. Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070716190837.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070706143417.htm People with epilepsy are three times more likely to commit suicide than the general population, according to a recent article. Researchers also found that women with epilepsy were more likely to commit suicide than men with the condition, and people diagnosed with epilepsy in the previous six months were at an even higher risk of committing suicide. Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070706143417.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070703172007.htm Bright light that flickers frequently or rapidly, like a strobe light, can trigger seizures in some people -- a phenomenon documented in nearly 700 children who were hospitalized in Japan 10 years ago after watching a Pokemon cartoon. The condition is much on the mind of a neurologist specializing in seizure disorders as the 4th of July holiday with all its fireworks approaches. Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070703172007.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070607112903.htm Researchers have discovered a five-fold increase in newer antiepileptic drugs given to children, despite the fact that their long-term safety has not been established. They've now called for urgent research into the top three. This comes hard on the heels of a report by the European Medicines Agency, which highlighted the need for further research into 21 antiepileptic drugs for children but didn't state which ones should be prioritised. Sat, 09 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070607112903.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070608094830.htm Millions of children with epilepsy in developing countries are being denied an effective drug that costs less than $3 a year, according to an editorial in this week's British Medical Journal. Professor Emilio Perucca urges governments and nongovernmental organizations in developing countries to ensure that effective treatment is available for all. Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070608094830.htm