Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a group of disorders marked by problems in the normal functioning of the brain. These problems can produce seizures, unusual body movements, a loss of consciousness or changes in consciousness, as well as mental problems or problems with the senses.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that has been known to mankind since ancient times. It affects the brain to cause repeated convulsions or seizures - also called fits in common parlance. The word “epilepsy” comes from the Greek and means to be taken, seized or attacked.

Epilepsy Classification

Epilepsy Epidemiology

Epilepsy Pathophysiology

Epilepsy Seizure Types

Epilepsy Syndromes

Epilepsy Treatment

Epilepsy Legal Implications

Epilepsy in Children

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Catamenial Epilepsy

Catamenial Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment

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Can Stem Cells be Used to Treat Epilepsy?

Breath Analysis in Epilepsy Treatment Monitoring

Latest Epilepsy News and Research

Drug repurposing offers hope for SYNGAP1 patients

The SynGAP Research Fund 501(c)(3) has awarded a pair of grants to Dr. Clement Chow, a geneticist and Associate Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah. These grants are crucial steps in advancing therapeutic development for SYNGAP1-Related Disorders (SRD).

30 Oct 2024

Study provides new insights into the molecular causes of rare, fatal hereditary disease

A study entitled "IER3IP1-mutations cause microcephaly by selective inhibition of ER-Golgi transport", now published in the open access journal "Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences", provides new insights into the molecular causes of a rare and usually fatal hereditary disease called MEDS1.

28 Oct 2024

Researchers unlock potential of light-controlled cellular activities

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have succeeded in elucidating the structure of specific photoreceptors.

25 Oct 2024

Deletion of long non-coding RNA linked to rare neurodevelopmental disorder

When a gene produces too much protein, it can have devastating consequences on brain development and function. Patients with an overproduction of protein from the chromodomain helicase DNA binding (CHD2) gene can develop a rare and severe neurodevelopmental disorder that renders them wheelchair-bound, nonverbal and with profound intellectual delays.

24 Oct 2024

Novel device may rescue people from overdose without bystander help

The opioid epidemic claims more 70,000 lives each year in the U.S., and lifesaving interventions are urgently needed.

23 Oct 2024

Healthy habits in middle age may protect against neurological conditions

In middle-aged people, having risk factors like blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol that are not well-controlled combined with not following certain healthy habits including exercise, diet and sleep, are linked to a higher risk of stroke, dementia or depression later in life, according to a study published in the October 23, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Oct 2024

Poor sleep quality linked to increased brain aging in middle age

People in early middle age who have poor sleep quality, including having difficulty falling or staying asleep, have more signs of poor brain health in late middle age, according to a study published in the October 23, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Oct 2024

Maternal stress and depression alter infant DNA, with potential lifelong impact

Maternal stress and depression during pregnancy and postpartum are linked to DNA methylation changes in infants, potentially affecting their development and long-term health.

23 Oct 2024

New prediction model helps identify epilepsy risk after stroke

Researchers from 15 countries, led by Amsterdam UMC, have developed a way to predict which patients are at risk of epilepsy after a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT).

21 Oct 2024

Clot-busting drug tenecteplase shows promising results for stroke recovery

For people with ischemic stroke, treatment with the clot-busting drug tenecteplase is associated with a slightly higher likelihood of an excellent recovery and reduced disability three months later than the drug alteplase, according to a meta-analysis published in the October 16, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16 Oct 2024

Researchers develop decision tree to help clinicians predict genetic diagnoses in neurodevelopmental cases

A study identifies motor delay and hypotonia as key predictors of genetic diagnoses, aiding clinicians in neurodevelopmental care and genetic testing decisions.

16 Oct 2024

Study shows no developmental delays in toddlers post-COVID-19 infection

Study explored the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection in children under two years old and cognitive development, finding no evidence of increased developmental delays post-infection. Differences in socioeconomic status were noted between COVID-19 positive and negative groups.

15 Oct 2024

Motor delays and hypotonia differentiate neurodevelopmental disease patients with and without genetic diagnoses

Researchers identified key clinical factors like motor delays and hypotonia that predict genetic diagnoses in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, creating a decision tree to guide clinicians.

14 Oct 2024

Breakthrough in mirror molecule synthesis opens doors for drug discovery

A University of Texas at Dallas chemist and his colleagues have developed a new chemical reaction that will allow researchers to synthesize selectively the left-handed or right-handed versions of "mirror molecules" found in nature and assess them for potential use against cancer, infection, depression, inflammation and a host of other conditions.

10 Oct 2024

Researchers decode how the brain identifies and responds to odors

Investigating neuronal activity in the brain, this study highlights how olfactory cues are processed, emphasizing the roles of the piriform cortex and amygdala.

10 Oct 2024

Researchers uncover neuronal mechanisms of human odor perception

We often only realize how important our sense of smell is when it is no longer there: food hardly tastes good, or we no longer react to dangers such as the smell of smoke.

9 Oct 2024

Novel gene therapy holds potential in treating patients with epilepsy

Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) are working on a therapy that holds potential in treating patients with epilepsy, a neurological disorder defined by recurring seizures due to abnormal brain activity.

9 Oct 2024