All articles tagged with #epilepsy
Six-week-old Lexi Frederick suffered a stroke that led to cerebral palsy and epilepsy; now 16, she uses pageants and public speaking to raise awareness about pediatric strokes, showing that strokes can affect children and urging society to support and include affected kids.
A New York City actress misinterpreted recurring seizures as panic attacks for years until doctors diagnosed focal impaired awareness seizures. After SEEG pinpointed the seizure origin, she received a NeuroPace brain implant in 2018–2019; by July 2019 her seizures were gone, allowing her to return to work, and she has remained seizure-free since, though she continues daily meds and will need periodic battery replacements for the device.
Researchers identified two molecules, prochlorperazine and CLP-257, that stabilize the KCC2 chloride transporter to restore GABAergic inhibition in epileptic tissue. In human brain slices they nearly abolished spontaneous interictal spikes, and in mouse models they reduced seizure frequency by about 40–55%, suggesting a promising repurposing path for treatment-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (potentially in combination with benzodiazepines).
An early-stage trial suggests the antisense drug zorevunersen is safe for children with Dravet syndrome and may dramatically reduce seizures, with the highest-dose group seeing 59%–91% fewer seizures after about 20 months and potential neurodevelopmental and quality-of-life benefits. The study involved 81 children (ages 2–18) in the UK and US and did not include a placebo; larger, controlled trials are underway, with results expected by 2028 to determine if the treatment can alter the disease course.
A new drug, zorevunersen, delivered by spinal infusion, is showing strong promise for Dravet syndrome in children by boosting brain sodium channel activity and dramatically reducing seizures; early trials report up to 90% fewer seizures, with patients like Freddie Truelove moving from hundreds of daily seizures to a few per week and regaining normal activities. UK and US trials involve young children, starting from age two, at several hospitals, and while results are encouraging, Phase 3 data are needed before it becomes widely available.
New Mayo Clinic findings indicate the brain may hijack memory-consolidation processes after a seizure, with nights of intensified deep (NREM) sleep and reduced REM sleep that strengthen seizure networks and potentially worsen epilepsy. This post-seizure consolidation could explain disease progression and points to a critical window for targeted neuromodulation therapies to disrupt the reinforced networks, an approach being explored by Mayo’s BIONIC initiative.
Jane Goodall, renowned ethologist and conservationist, died at age 91 from cardiopulmonary arrest while in California on a speaking tour; she also had epilepsy, though its role in her death is unclear. Her passing has been widely mourned, highlighting her revolutionary contributions to science and environmental advocacy.
An AI tool developed by researchers at Murdoch Children's Research Institute and The Royal Children's Hospital has significantly improved the detection of tiny brain lesions in children with epilepsy, leading to targeted surgeries that have successfully made some children, like John, seizure-free. The AI, called 'AI epilepsy detective,' enhances MRI and PET scan analysis, allowing for earlier and more precise treatment, which can prevent long-term learning difficulties associated with uncontrolled seizures.
Rapport Therapeutics' experimental drug RAP-219 significantly reduced seizures in hard-to-treat epilepsy patients, leading to a 119.2% surge in its stock price, with the drug showing promising results and mild side effects.
Researchers studying epilepsy patients found that nerve cells in the medial temporal lobe synchronize their firing with slow brain waves, known as theta rhythms, during both learning and recall, suggesting this synchronization is a general feature of memory processing rather than a predictor of successful recall. The findings deepen understanding of brain rhythms in memory and could inform future treatments for memory disorders.
Shaquille Edwards, an epileptic patient, plans to take legal action against Arima Hospital after suffering a severe wrist injury due to alleged medical negligence during a seizure, highlighting systemic issues in healthcare and inadequate patient care.
A large study reveals that epileptic seizures are more common in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients than previously thought, often occurring up to 10 years before diagnosis, suggesting that early detection of seizures could improve FTD diagnosis and management.
Researchers at the University of Bergen have developed mini-brains, or brain organoids, to study mitochondrial dysfunction in brain cells, offering new insights into treating conditions like epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. These organoids mimic disease processes, allowing for real-time observation and testing of potential treatments, potentially revolutionizing the understanding and treatment of mitochondrial brain disorders.
A personal story recounts how a baby monitor helped a young girl with epilepsy maintain independence while allowing her parents to monitor her health. After her first seizure at 11, her parents used the monitor to ensure her safety without sharing a room. Now 28 and seizure-free due to medication, she reflects on the monitor as both a nuisance and a comfort, symbolizing her parents' sacrifices and support in managing her condition.
New research indicates that adults can generate new neurons, which are linked to improved verbal learning and cognitive function. This discovery, based on studies of epilepsy patients, suggests that enhancing neurogenesis could help mitigate cognitive decline associated with aging and neurological disorders. The findings highlight the importance of studying neurogenesis in humans, as it may differ from animal models like mice. Current clinical trials are exploring the potential of aerobic exercise to boost neuron production and cognition in epilepsy patients.