People with epilepsy at slightly increased risk of more severe COVID-19 symptoms, study suggests


** Epilepsy Research News: December 2020
------------------------------------------------------------

In this month’s news, we spotlight a publication describing CURE Epilepsy’s Infantile Spasms (IS) Initiative ([link removed]) , a collaborative research program that brought a team science approach to understanding the causes and potential treatments for IS. Running from 2013-2016, this program led to numerous advances in understanding the pathways in the brain involved in IS.

Also, this month we feature news from the EPISTOP study showing that preventative treatment with the drug vigabatrin decreased the number of days with seizures as well as the severity of epilepsy in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex ([link removed]) . We also highlight recent work from CURE Epilepsy Grantee Dr. Jeffrey Loeb, whose team identified a protein found in healthy brain tissue ([link removed]) that may work to prevent the spread of seizures.

These studies and more are summarized below.
Research Highlights
* Infantile Spasms (Spotlighting the work of CURE Epilepsy’s Infantile Spasms Initiative): This recent publication highlights CURE Epilepsy’s Infantile Spasms (IS) Initiative, established in 2013 to support a collaborative, team science-based and milestone-driven effort to advance the understanding of causes of and potential treatments for IS. The combined efforts of the research team led to numerous advances in understanding the causes of IS. It also brought together a diverse group of investigators ‐ who otherwise would not have collaborated ‐ to study therapies for IS. Learn more ([link removed])

* Preventing the Spread of Seizures (Featuring the work of CURE Epilepsy Grantee Dr. Jeffrey Loeb, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health/American Epilepsy Society): New research may explain what prevents seizures in certain areas of the brain from spreading to other areas of the brain. Dr. Loeb and his colleagues found that a protein called DUSP4 was increased in healthy brain tissue directly next to epileptic brain tissue. The research suggests that DUSP4 may work to prevent the spread of epilepsy in the brain, and that boosting levels of DUSP4 could be a novel way of preventing or treating epilepsy. Learn more ([link removed])

* Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Treatment: Preventive treatment with vigabatrin effectively decreased the risk and severity of epilepsy in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex who were enrolled in the EPISTOP multi-center study. Vigabatrin resulted in a significantly longer time to first clinical seizure compared with a conventional treatment as well as a lower proportion of days with seizures until age 2, according to the study findings. The "EPISTOP study has shown that it may be possible to change the natural history of severe infantile epilepsy through early intervention with antiepileptic therapy,” the researchers wrote. Learn more ([link removed])

* Epilepsy and Dementia: Late-onset epilepsy has been linked to a substantial increased risk of subsequent dementia. Results of a retrospective analysis show that patients who develop epilepsy at age 67 or older have a threefold increased risk of subsequent dementia versus their counterparts without epilepsy. “We are finding that just as the risk of seizures is increased in neurodegenerative diseases, the risk of dementia is increased after late-onset epilepsy and seizures,” study investigator Emily L. Johnson, MD, assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, said in an interview. “Several other on-going studies are finding similar results,” she added. Learn more ([link removed])

* Epilepsy Treatment Expansion Approval: The FDA expanded its approval of lacosamide, marketed as Vimpat, to include add-on therapy for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures as well as an IV formulation for patients aged 4 years and older. Learn more ([link removed])

Our mission is to find a cure for epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research. CURE Epilepsy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Our tax identification number is 36-4253176.
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

============================================================
Copyright © 2020 CURE Epilepsy, All rights reserved.
In the past you provided CURE Epilepsy your email address. Occasionally, you will receive updates from us about epilepsy research and news.

Our mailing address is:
CURE Epilepsy
420 Wabash Ave, Ste 650
Chicago, IL 60611
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
CURE Epilepsy . 420 Wabash Ave, Ste 650 . Chicago, IL 60611 . USA