Epilepsy News and Research

Latest Epilepsy News and Research

Researchers discover biomarker for earlier diagnosis of MS

Researchers from the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center identified for the first time that changes in the tissue located at the junction between the outer and inner layers of the brain, called "blurring", may be an important, non-invasive biomarker for earlier diagnosis and the development of new therapies for degenerative brain conditions, such as multiple sclerosis.

1 Nov 2011

Dementia people with stroke more likely to become disabled and not return home

New research shows people with dementia who have a stroke are more likely to become disabled and not return home compared to people who didn't have dementia at the time they had a stroke.

1 Nov 2011

Researchers identify FMRP protein as key player in RNA editing

The most common form of heritable cognitive impairment is Fragile X Syndrome, caused by mutation or malfunction of the FMR1 gene. Loss of FMR1 function is also the most common genetic cause of autism. Understanding how this gene works is vital to finding new treatments to help Fragile X patients and others.

31 Oct 2011

Special hospital team reduces cumulated risk of stroke in TIA patients

Patients who had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), sometimes referred to as a "mini stroke", were much less likely to experience further vascular events in the first year if their care was co-ordinated by a special hospital team.

28 Oct 2011

Fasudil drug shows promise against cerebral cavernous malformation

A drug treatment has been proven to prevent lesions from cerebral cavernous malformation — a brain blood vessel abnormality that can cause bleeding, epilepsy and stroke — for the first time in a new study.

28 Oct 2011

external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation pediatric clinical trial for ADHD receives NeuroSigma funding

NeuroSigma, Inc., a Los Angeles-based medical technology company, announced today that it has signed a contract with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to fund a Phase I pediatric clinical trial to study the use of non-invasive, external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

24 Oct 2011

Lundbeck's ONFI receives FDA approval for treating seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Lundbeck Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ONFI as adjunctive therapy for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients two years and older.

24 Oct 2011

Vertex initiates INCIVEK combination Phase 3b study for hepatitis C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the initiation of a Phase 3b study called CONCISE that will evaluate the potential for treatment with INCIVEK (telaprevir) combination therapy to be shortened to 12 weeks in people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who have the 'CC' variation near the IL28B gene.

24 Oct 2011

New neuroconomics study reveals how you make decisions

New research reveals how we make decisions. Birds choosing between berry bushes and investors trading stocks are faced with the same fundamental challenge - making optimal choices in an environment featuring varying costs and benefits.

22 Oct 2011

Neuroscientists discover normal brain communication in people with AgCC

Like a bridge that spans a river to connect two major metropolises, the corpus callosum is the main conduit for information flowing between the left and right hemispheres of our brains. Now, neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology have found that people who are born without that link-a condition called agenesis of the corpus callosum, or AgCC-still show remarkably normal communication across the gap between the two halves of their brains.

20 Oct 2011

AAN updated guideline on how to best treat essential tremor

The American Academy of Neurology is releasing an updated guideline on how to best treat essential tremor, which is the most common type of tremor disorder and is often confused with other movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

20 Oct 2011

Melbourne Brain Centre to open on Monday

Melbourne will become a magnet for the world's best and brightest brain researchers after the official opening of the Melbourne Brain Centre at The University of Melbourne Parkville by the Premier Ted Baillieu and Federal MP Michael Danby on Monday.

19 Oct 2011

Surgery may be effective in difficult-to-treat epilepsy cases

A study published this week in the journal the Lancet involved 615 patients who were suffering from refractory focal epilepsy, a type that has proved difficult to treat, even with multiple medications.

17 Oct 2011

Virtual brain models for epilepsy and schizophrenia

Virtual brains modeling epilepsy and schizophrenia display less complexity among functional connections, and other differences compared to healthy brain models, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine report.

15 Oct 2011

Viewpoints: 'Killing' Medicaid; medicine for mentally ill; 'outrageous' veto of mammogram bill in Calif.

Even as it vigorously defends the constitutionality of the individual mandate, the Obama administration may be complicit in eviscerating Medicaid - and setting back the broader goal of ensuring that all Americans have access to quality health care.

15 Oct 2011

Faster cerebral cortex growth in infancy may lead to higher intelligence

New research suggests the growth rate of the brain's cerebral cortex in babies born prematurely may predict how well they are able to think, speak, plan and pay attention later in childhood. The research is published in the October 12, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

14 Oct 2011

Action Medical Research announces grants to investigate conditions affecting babies, children

Action Medical Research - the leading UK-wide medical research charity dedicated to helping babies and children - has today announced grants worth more than £1.3 million for top researchers across the country.

13 Oct 2011

Mass. Medicaid waiver hits roadblock; N.Y. enrollment reaches 5 million

Politico reports that despite its health reform efforts, Massachusetts is having trouble getting the federal government to issue a waiver for Medicaid programs. The Wall Street Journal reports on the growing needs in New York.

13 Oct 2011

U of U researchers to investigate long-term effects of TBI in soldiers

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects many Americans: high school athletes, drivers and passengers in motor vehicle accidents, and victims of domestic violence, to name a few. Some of the most striking effects of brain injury are seen in our soldiers and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Two University of Utah researchers are teaming up with the Department of Defense to investigate the long-term effects of TBI in these returning soldiers.

13 Oct 2011

AAN Foundation launches new PSA on finding cure for brain disease

With one in six people in the United States now affected by brain disease such as dementia, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, the American Academy of Neurology Foundation is marking its 20th anniversary with the launch of a new public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness about the need for more research to cure brain disease.

12 Oct 2011