Advanced Heart Failure Therapies for Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Epilepsy News

Jan. 12, 2023 — An international consortium has identified at least some of the genetic drivers of a mysterious form of pediatric ...

Jan. 10, 2023 — Imagine slipping in and out of consciousness hundreds of times per day, staying awake the whole time but having no sense of awareness during these lapses. In children with absence epilepsy, these ...

Jan. 4, 2023 — Following a modified Atkins diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates plus taking medication may reduce seizures in people with tough-to-treat epilepsy, according to a new ...

Nov. 30, 2022 — Researchers have discovered a specific genetic variant in SCN1A, the most common genetic epilepsy, that leads to an earlier onset of epilepsy, with clinical features distinct from other epilepsies. ...

Nov. 29, 2022 — Two new models could solve a problem that's long frustrated millions of people with epilepsy and the doctors who treat them: how to find precisely where seizures originate to treat exactly that ...

Nov. 28, 2022 — Researchers have taken a key step toward improving the lives of patients with epilepsy by developing a sensor system for quickly testing their saliva to see if they have the correct level of ...

Nov. 23, 2022 — Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common types of epilepsy worldwide. Although symptomatic medications are available, one-third of TLE patients remain unresponsive to current treatment, ...

Nov. 16, 2022 — People who have a COVID-19 infection are more likely to develop seizures or epilepsy within the next six months than people who have an influenza infection, according to a new ...

Nov. 16, 2022 — Children with a severe form of epilepsy should be vaccinated against the flu due to the high risk of seizures being triggered by an influenza infection, according to a new ...

Nov. 3, 2022 — Researchers have provided the first demonstration of a progressive increase in epileptic spasms along with learning and memory deficits in an animal model of this ...

Nov. 3, 2022 — A new treatment for neurological and psychiatric diseases, that works by reducing the excitability of overactive brain cells, has been ...

Sep. 29, 2022 — People who have had bariatric surgery may have an increased risk of developing epilepsy, according to a new ...

Aug. 12, 2022 — An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that can detect subtle brain abnormalities which cause epileptic seizures has been ...

June 14, 2022 — Researchers propose a new method to differentiate signals from the epileptic focus from those recorded in other parts of the brain without the presence of an epileptic seizure. This technique may ...

May 12, 2022 — New research introduces a novel network analysis technology that uses minimally invasive resting state electrophysiological recordings to localize seizure onset brain regions and predict seizure ...

May 12, 2022 — A new study suggests that antidepressant use by mothers during the first trimester of pregnancy does not increase the chances of epilepsy and seizures in ...

May 11, 2022 — A new study associates some types of shunts used after epilepsy surgery with brains shifting toward the side of the ...

Apr. 20, 2022 — New evidence from a zebrafish model of epilepsy may help resolve a debate into how seizures originate, according to investigators. The findings may also be useful in the discovery and development of ...

Apr. 14, 2022 — Scientists have announced a significant advance in our understanding of epilepsy, as they have identified a potential method of preventing damaging seizure activity. Brain cells are nourished by an ...

Apr. 6, 2022 — A new study suggests that people with epilepsy associated with head injuries, especially the type not well controlled by medication, are more likely to have other health conditions like depression, ...

Early Intervention Post-Seizure May Prevent Long-Term Epilepsy

Register for free to listen to this article

Thank you. Listen to this article using the player above. ✖

Want to listen to this article for FREE?

Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.

Only a very small percentage of neurons show changes after an epileptic seizure in mice, but these alterations can be permanent and trigger future seizures that can affect the whole brain and lead to impaired cognition, like memory and learning, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The researchers identified an experimental treatment that, if provided within the first 48 hours after the first seizure, can prevent these long-term changes.

The findings, which were published recently in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest a promising target for developing treatments for epilepsy and preventing downstream effects of seizures.

Epilepsy is characterized by excessive activity of brain cells – neurons – which generate seizures. Research is increasingly showing that the development of epilepsy involves changes of synapses, which are structures that connect one neuron to another.

While an estimated 3.4 million people in the United States live with some form of epilepsy, it is still unknown what causes it, and there is no cure. Further, half of individuals with epilepsy experience cognitive impairment, such as problems with memory, or with emotional regulation, but it remains unclear why or how epilepsy changes brain cells to cause this. What's more, epilepsy is common in children with autism and individuals with dementia.

Subscribe to Technology Networks' daily newsletter, delivering breaking science news straight to your inbox every day.

Subscribe for FREE

"It is clear that there is some connection between an epileptic brain, impaired memory and trouble controlling emotions and how we act on those feelings, but we don't understand the underlying mechanisms," said Frances E. Jensen, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology, and senior author of the study. "Existing treatments for epilepsy only help manage seizures. This research gives us a promising starting point for developing therapies that prevent them from happening."

In this study, the researchers used a method that "tagged" neurons in the hippocampus—an area commonly affected by epilepsy, and critical for memory—of mice that were activated by epileptic activity.

The researchers were able to monitor those activated neurons over time and observe how they responded to subsequent seizures. They found that only about twenty percent of neurons in the hippocampus were activated by seizures. Over time, the overactivity of these neurons diminished their ability to make connections with other neurons, called synapses, which is necessary for learning.

"The overactive neurons lose their ability to build the strong synapses necessary for learning, which may explain why some people with epilepsy have trouble with learning and with memory," said Jensen. "If we can stop these neurons from undergoing changes after being activated by seizures, our hope is that we can also prevent not only the progression of epilepsy, but also avoid these cognitive deficits individuals experience long-term."

To see if they could prevent neurons from becoming permanently epileptic, the researchers used an experimental glutamate receptor-blocker, called IEM-1460, which has been shown to reduce neuron hyperexcitability in models of mice with epilepsy.

They found when they treated mice with this blocker in the first 48 hours after their very first seizure the neurons did not become permanently activated, and the subjects did not experience future seizures or the associated effects, like impaired cognition and trouble learning.

"Now that we have identified the subgroup of neurons that are impacted by epilepsy, we can investigate what makes these cells vulnerable to becoming epileptic, and whether that is something we can develop a therapy to stop," said Jensen. "We are also eager to determine whether there is a glutamate receptor-blocker that works similarly to IEM-1460 in humans, which could be given to people after their first seizure, and prevent the lifelong struggles associated with epilepsy."

Reference: Xing B, Barbour AJ, Vithayathil J, et al. Reversible synaptic adaptations in a subpopulation of murine hippocampal neurons following early-life seizures. J Clin Invest. 2024;134(5). Doi: 10.1172/JCI175167

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

Study: Epilepsy Patients Benefit From Structured 'seizure Action Plans'

A new 16-week study of 204 adult epilepsy patients found that 98% of participants believe that all patients with epilepsy should have a seizure action plan (SAP), regardless of seizure status.

These plans can help patients with epilepsy to safely manage seizure emergencies. But health care providers don't always discuss them with their patients.

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine found that standardizing a structured SAP can help adults with epilepsy safely manage seizures.

Study findings published online today in the journal Neurology: Clinical Practice.

"Our work suggests that simple discussions between providers and patients/care-partners of how to manage seizure emergencies with a seizure action plan can increase knowledge and comfort about seizure emergencies," said senior author Lucretia Long, DNP, an epilepsy nurse practitioner and a clinical associate professor of neurology at Ohio State.

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition affecting about 3.4 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Up to 56% of patients with epilepsy have uncontrolled seizures, despite taking antiseizure drugs. Uncontrolled seizures can result in increased emergency room visits, hospitalizations and time away from work.

"Most seizures occur outside of hospitals. Many patients fear that they could have a seizure at any time, yet don't have a plan. This highlights the need for a standardized educational intervention to help patients better manage seizure emergencies," said co-investigator Sarita Maturu, DO, an epilepsy physician and researcher at Ohio State.

Most education programs are expensive and require extended time commitments and resources, both of which are barriers for success. In contrast, SAPs are efficient, cost effective, structured education tools used to engage patients and caregivers to actively participate in managing their condition, Maturu said.

Study participants filled out surveys before and after the study. Reminders to complete the plan were shared verbally, via text and email.

"We also educated health care providers on SAPs, and how to use them during outpatient visits. All five providers agreed that the biggest challenge was their limited time during patients' visits," said Long, whose clinical interests include epilepsy patient education, health care disparities, seizure action plans and women's issues in epilepsy.

Future efforts could focus on incorporating electronic SAP, using process improvement models and creating advance practice provider clinics focused on customizing SAPs, Long said.

More information: Lucretia Long et al, Evaluation of a Seizure Action Plan in an Adult Epilepsy Center, Neurology Clinical Practice (2024). DOI: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200275

Citation: Study: Epilepsy patients benefit from structured 'seizure action plans' (2024, April 6) retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://medicalxpress.Com/news/2024-04-epilepsy-patients-benefit-seizure-action.Html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

---