RxPG News : Brain Diseases

Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:11:21 PST

A new study by researchers at UC Davis Medical Center suggests that the sudden unexplained deaths of some epilepsy patients may be a result of their brains not telling their bodies to breathe during seizures.

Topiramate may increase the risk of birth defects

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:41:23 PST

Taking the epilepsy drug topiramate alone or along with other epilepsy drugs during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, according to a study published in the July 22, 2008, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Glutamate- involved in blocking response to anti-epileptic medication

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:41:38 PST

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. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Medical School, in collaboration with Heidrun Potschka’s laboratory at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, is available online and will appear in the May 2008, issue of Molecular Pharmacology.

New therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases

Thu, 10 May 2007 08:22:23 PST

The focus of work in the Neurosciences Departmentâs Neurobiology Laboratory at the University of the Basque Countryâs Faculty of Medicine and Odontology is the investigation of the molecular and cellular bases of neurodegenerative illnesses â those that affect the brain and the spinal cord. Some of these neurodegenerative illnesses are well known and affect a significant part of the population, such as Alzheimerâs disease and multiple sclerosis.

Responsive Neurostimulator System: An implantable device to treat epilepsy

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:54:00 PST

About 2.5 million Americans of all ages have epilepsy. Think of it as a tiny electrical storm in the brain. Many people suffer from seizures affecting their quality of life or have side effects from epilepsy medications. However, patients with some types of the disease don't respond to surgery or may be at high risk for complications. That's why new devices surgically implanted in the brain itself offer hope for an effective epilepsy treatment.

Defibrillator to prevent epileptic seizures?

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:10:00 PST

Researchers at MIT are developing a device that could detect and prevent epileptic seizures before they become debilitating.

Septum sets the tempo of brain's electrical activity

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:06:00 PST

The brain's septum helps prevent epileptic seizures by inducing rhythmical electrical activity in the circuits of another area of the brain known as the hippocampus, according to a new study in the Journal of Neurophysiology. The researchers found that, by imposing a normal "theta" rhythm on chronically epileptic rats, they could reduce epileptic seizures by 86-97 percent.

Computerized atlas highlights brain structure changes in Williams syndrome

Mon, 22 May 2006 03:22:00 PST

A computerized atlas has brought unprecedented sensitivity to the search for brain structure changes in a genetic condition known as Williams syndrome, revealing 33 abnormalities in the folding of the brain's surface. The disorder, which occurs in 1 in every 20,000 births, impairs visual and spatial skills but preserves musical ability and sociability.

Multiple-stage surgery brings hope for Tuberous Sclerosis with intractable seizures

Sat, 06 May 2006 18:50:00 PST

Sadly, none of the treatments for epilepsyanti-seizure medications, a procedure called vagus nerve stimulation, a special diet could quell the electrical storms in the young boys brain. Caused by a rare genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis, the seizures began when he was only 2 months old. By the time he was 5, he was having more than 10 a day. The seizures left him with the developmental capabilities of a 1-year-old child.

Brain Gene Expression Map (BGEM) - Powerful new tool for studying brain development

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 21:23:00 PST

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have given investigators around the world free access to a powerful tool for studying brain development. The Internet-based tool, called the mouse Brain Gene Expression Map (BGEM), is one of the largest gene expression maps of an organ ever developed, according to the St. Jude researchers. They say the map will likely help scientists discover the genetic origins of brain cancers, which could speed development of novel drugs to treat them.

Flexible Drug Dosing in Epilepsy Reduces Side Effects

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:49:00 PST

For the first time, researchers compared dosing regimens of an antiepileptic drug (AED) used for treatment of partial epilepsy in adults, in conjunction with other AEDs. They looked at dosing used in clinical everyday life (flexible dosing) and that used in classical clinical trials (fixed dose) and discovered that the flexible dosing method was superior. Researchers observed how patients responded to these two methods of dosing therapy over a 12-week period. According to the researchers, while clinical trials have traditionally used fixed doses throughout a treatment period, clinical practice allows for the gradual adjustment of medication dose to enhance patient tolerability and enable optimum effective dosing, based on individual patient response.

Depression and anxiety improve after epilepsy surgery

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 21:45:00 PST

Depression and anxiety are common problems for people whose epilepsy cannot be controlled by medication. A new study found that depression and anxiety improve significantly after epilepsy surgery.

New technology to help children with cerebral palsy

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:17:00 PST

Biomedical engineers at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) will use new technology to help children with cerebral palsy improve their movements, reduce stiffness in their joints and live fuller and more independent lives. Small robots mounted on wheelchairs, interactive video games and a robotic arm that can be programmed to guide and aid human motion these are just a few of the technologies the engineers will use to help these children improve their muscular control and movements.

Ketogenic diet prevents seizures

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:55:00 PST

Although the high-fat, calorie-restricted ketogenic diet (KD) has long been used to prevent childhood epileptic seizures that are unresponsive to drugs, physicians have not really understood exactly why the diet works. New studies by a research team at Emory University School of Medicine show that the diet alters genes involved in energy metabolism in the brain, which in turn helps stabilize the function of neurons exposed to the challenges of epileptic seizures. This knowledge could help scientists identify specific molecular or genetic targets and lead to more effective drug treatments for epilepsy and brain damage.

How thinking can harm brain cells

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:59:00 PST

Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have targeted a new culprit and method of attack on neurologic functions in diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia associated with HIV.

Blood Test Can Help Determine Type of Seizure

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 01:54:00 PST

Using a blood test to measure the level of the hormone prolactin can help determine, in certain clinical settings, whether an epileptic seizure has occurred, according to a guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology and published in the September 13, 2005 issue of Neurology. The guideline authors reviewed all of the scientific evidence available on use of the prolactin blood test to diagnose seizures and developed evidence-based recommendations.

New non-surgical method of identifying brain infections

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 18:02:00 PST

Researchers at Westmead Millennium Institute have discovered a safe, non-surgical method of identifying brain infections such as brain abscess, and an accurate and rapid way of diagnosing meningitis.

Propofol is effective in pediatric refractory status epilepticus

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 08:03:00 PST

Propofol is a safe and effective drug to treat children with refractory status epilepticus, and it is recommended before thiopental, according to a study in the August 23, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Propofol and thiopental are widely used intravenous anesthetics which are also known to help control seizures.

Astrocytes appear to play a key role in development of epilepsy

Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:50:00 PST

Star-shaped brain cells that are often overlooked by doctors and scientists as mere support cells appear to play a key role in the development of epilepsy, researchers say in a study published on-line August 14 in Nature Medicine. It's one of the first times scientists have produced firm evidence implicating the cells, known as astrocytes, in a common human disease.

Novel treatment targets for absence seizures - Study

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 13:52:00 PST

New research suggests novel treatment targets for the most common form of childhood epilepsy with the potential to have fewer side effects than traditional therapy. The findings from Wake Forest University School of Medicine are reported today in the July issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Noninvasive evaluation of epilepsy patients prior to surgery- Funtional MRI

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 23:35:00 PST

Brain surgery is a treatment option for epileptic patients who fail to respond to medical therapy.Prior to surgery, the epileptic focus and its proximity to important funtional areas needs to be identified . This was done in the past by invasive tests likethe Wada test and electrical cortical mapping.Functional MRI, which uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field, is a non-invasive test capable of identifying the location of critical brain functions that could be affected by the location of the seizure focus.

Epilepsy surgery shows good results even after 30 years

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 03:23:00 PST

A new study shows that the prognosis is good for people who have epilepsy surgery, even 30 years after the surgery. The study is published in the June 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.