CURE Epilepsy is dedicated to funding patient-focused research to find a cure for the 65 million people with epilepsy worldwide. This month, we share the following articles and abstracts which are furthering the study of epilepsy and bringing the world closer to a cure.
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This issue of Epilepsy Research News includes summaries of articles on:
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Genetic testing in patients with epilepsy can inform treatment and lead to better outcomes in many cases, according to a new study. The study, led and funded by the genetic testing company Invitae, included patients referred for genetic testing between 2016 and 2020 whose testing revealed a positive molecular diagnosis. The investigators asked the patient’s healthcare providers how the results of the genetic test impacted the patient’s treatment plan and outcomes. Of the 418 children and adults with epilepsy who were included in the study, nearly half saw changes in their treatment plans such as a change in medication or referral to a specialist, after genetic testing revealed new information about their condition. The study also found that of 167 patients with follow-up information available, treatment changes were associated with improved patient outcomes including a reduction or elimination of seizures. The authors concluded that results support the use of genetic testing to guide the clinical management of epilepsy to improve patient outcomes. Learn more about genetic testing for epilepsy here.
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A new “tool” – a statistical model – has been developed to help doctors find precisely where seizures originate in the brain to increase the possibility of treating that specific region. Localizing where seizures begin is usually a costly and time-consuming process that can often require days to weeks of invasive monitoring. In this study, researchers aimed to shorten the time it takes to locate the seizure onset zone by studying patients' brains, both when they weren't having seizures and when their brains were stimulated with quick electrical pulses, to quickly create maps predicting where seizures begin. In the 65 patients studied, the model predicted the location of the onset of seizures and the ultimate success of surgical intervention with 79% accuracy. The researchers noted that this tool might be used to help clinicians identify the area where seizures begin in a less time-consuming process.
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A recently published study shows that a potential new treatment can prevent seizures in mice by clearing the accumulation of a protein in the brain known as the tau protein. Researchers at Macquarie University recently found that accumulation of tau protein can lead to neurons becoming hyperexcited. Hyperexcited neurons that fire continuously can result in seizures and cognitive decline. In the newly published study, the researchers developed a gene therapy that uses a brain enzyme known as p38y to prevent this accumulation. When treated with the new gene therapy, mice with uncontrolled epilepsy had a better chance of survival in addition to reduced seizure susceptibility. The researchers note that their next step is to conduct a more detailed study in the laboratory, in hopes of eventually preparing the treatment for a possible clinical trial.
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A technical brief published by the World Health Organization (WHO) called Improving the Lives of People with Epilepsy sets out the actions required to deliver an integrated approach to epilepsy care and treatment with the goal of meeting the multifaceted needs of people with epilepsy. In summary, the brief highlights the importance of:
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Integrated services across the life-course, particularly at the primary care level
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Access to anti-seizure medicines
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Resources and training for the health and social services workforce
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Anti-stigma and discriminatory legislation and practices; promoting and respecting the human rights and full social inclusion of people with epilepsy, their families and caregivers.
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People with chronic epilepsy often experience impaired memory. Researchers have now found a mechanism using a mouse model of epilepsy that could explain this impairment. Porous channels called ion channels within the brain allow electrically charged particles (ions) to flow into neurons, allowing neurons to communicate with each other. However, the researchers found changes in sodium ion channels within neurons of the hippocampus – an area of the brain important in learning and memory – that could lead to changes in the activity of these neurons and affect their normal function. When the researchers administered substances to restore the normal function of these channels, the firing properties of the neurons normalized, and the animals were better able to remember places they had visited. The study provides insight into the processes involved in memory retrieval. In addition, it provides support for the idea that the development of new drugs may improve the memory of epilepsy patients.
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