Seizure

Anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) is the only deep brain stimulation (DBS) target that is approved by the FDA for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Hippocampus (HC) and centromedian nucleus (CMN) have been reported as potential DBS targets for DRE. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and predictors of response among DRE patients treated with DBS in general and among ANT, HC and CMN DBS-targets.

Functional seizures (FS), also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), dissociative seizures and non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD), present as clinically observable, paroxysmal alterations in behaviour or consciousness that resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with epileptiform electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and are not directly caused by other organic conditions [1]. While these seizure-like events are the result of complex neuropsychiatric factors [2,3], their resemblance to epileptic convulsions, especially to healthcare providers who have little experience in dealing with FS, often ...

Epilepsies are diverse brain disorders characterized by unprovoked recurrent seizures [1]. Epilepsies contribute significantly to the global disease burden, affecting over 60 million people worldwide of all ages [2]. The underlying pathogenesis remains poorly understood and many patients continue to suffer from uncontrolled seizures [3,4]. Epilepsies are divided by seizure onset into two broad groups; focal epilepsies and generalized epilepsies, the latter being predominantly composed of genetic generalized epilepsies (GGE).

The diagnosis of epilepsy involves identifying interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on EEG tracings.[1–3] Consistent detection of spikes is challenging, due to significant variability in the waveform shapes of IEDs across different patients.[4,5] The gold standard method for EEG evaluation involves visual interpretation by trained physicians. However, due to scarcity of experienced neurophysiologists, and considering interpersonal variability in interpretation,[6,7] there is an increasing demand for automated systems capable of accurate EEG reading.

Cardiac functional and electrical alterations are well-described phenomena in individuals with epilepsy. Ictal and inter-ictal rhythm disturbances [1-5] and other electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities [6-13] indicate that epilepsy can have adverse effects on the autonomic nervous system as well as on the myocardium. Furthermore, epilepsy is associated with a higher risk for adverse cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death in adults [14-18]. Together, these findings support the concept of the epileptic heart: an aberrant cardiovascular system ...

Epilepsy in individuals over the age of 50 is common and now accounts for almost one third of new-onset epilepsies [1]. Neurodegenerative diseases at the stage of major cognitive impairment are part of the etiology of epilepsy, accounting for almost 15% of cases [2]. However, major neurocognitive disorder (previously known as dementia) is preceded by a pre-dementia state, whether prodromal or preclinical, by several years [3,4]. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the pre-dementia stages are now considered to ...

Identifying individuals who will go on to have another seizure after a first unprovoked seizure (FUS) is a major clinical dilemma. After FUS, 40-52% of patients will have seizure recurrence within 2 years [1], meeting the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria for epilepsy. Alternatively, the finding of epileptiform abnormalities on EEG or an epileptogenic lesion on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after FUS is used to make an epilepsy diagnosis ([2,3]) and inform the commencement of anti-seizure medication (ASM).

Nodding syndrome (NS) is a severe debilitating neurological disorder affecting individuals in the Northern part of Uganda, Tanzania, and Sudan [1]. In Uganda, there were an estimated 3,000 affected children in 2019 [2]. There have been no new cases reported since 2014 [3] but some of those who were diagnosed in the 2000s have grown into adults of childbearing age [4].

Epilepsy, as a common chronic disease of the nervous system, is characterized by recurrent, paroxysmal, and transient disturbances in cerebral function resulting from aberrant neuronal hyperactivity within the brain [1]. Children represent one of the two peak populations for epilepsy [2]. Management of pediatric epilepsies poses unique challenges regarding diagnosis, treatment options, comorbidities, and the potential for these factors to interact with processes in the developing brain [3]. Anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are a primary treatment for epilepsy, with over 20 ...

Infancy epilepsy is a serious medical condition often linked to severe complications such as autism and intellectual disability. It is also associated with a high risk of mortality and has the highest incidence among all age groups. Infantile epileptic spasm syndrome (IESS) is the most common form of epilepsy in infants [1,2] The etiologies of infantile epilepsy are primarily genetic, structural, and metabolic. Genetic mutations can also result in structural lesions.[3] Approximately 90.0% of children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) ...