Recent Research

In a recent study focused on neonates suffering from hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), researchers aimed to tackle the challenge of identifying electroencephalographic seizures (ES) efficiently. Monitoring for these seizures is typically done using continuous electroencephalographic (CEEG) methods, which can be resource-intensive. The team wanted to create a predictive model that could help identify which babies are more likely to experience seizures, ultimately streamlining the process and reducing the need for prolonged monitoring.

A recent study has shed light on a critical issue in epilepsy research: the significant underrepresentation of minority groups in clinical trials. With a growing number of individuals with epilepsy belonging to these groups, the findings emphasize the urgent need for inclusivity in clinical trial enrollment. Researchers analyzed completed epilepsy trials in the U.S. from 2006 to 2022 and focused on both race and sex disparities among participants.

A recent study has shed light on the brain’s white matter (WM) health in patients who have experienced their first seizure, even before they are diagnosed with epilepsy. Researchers set out to investigate whether any microstructural changes in the brain could be detected in these patients using a technology called diffusion imaging. They focused on a group of 82 individuals, including those who had just one seizure, those with established epilepsy, and a control group of healthy individuals. The goal was to see if there were notable differences in the brain’s white matter that could hint at the development of epilepsy down the line.

In the world of epilepsy treatment, particularly for those with drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRFE), pinpointing the exact area of the brain responsible for seizures is crucial. This process, known as localizing the epileptogenic zone (EZ), often involves a combination of non-invasive tests like EEG and MRI. However, when these tests don’t provide clear answers, doctors may turn to invasive methods like stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG). A recent study has explored a new approach to assist in this challenging task by using a type of PET imaging that targets a specific protein marker associated with glial activation, called the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO).

Epilepsy can present significant challenges when it comes to pinpointing the exact area in the brain responsible for seizures, especially for patients who do not respond to medication. Identifying this area, known as the epileptogenic zone (EZ), is crucial for effective presurgical planning. In the quest to improve this localization process, researchers have turned their attention to interictal spikes—brief bursts of electrical activity in the brain that occur between seizures. Specifically, they’ve examined a type of spike known as pSpikes, which overlap with high-frequency oscillations. This study aimed to see how well pSpikes perform compared to other types of spikes in identifying the EZ.

In a recent study, researchers investigated whether measuring a specific protein in the blood, called phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNF-H), could help predict the development of posttraumatic epilepsy following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This protein acts as a marker for nerve damage, and scientists wanted to see if its levels in the blood could indicate whether injured rats would experience epilepsy later on.

A recent study explored the incidence of late-onset epilepsy (LOE) in different racial and ethnic groups in the USA, with a particular focus on the Hispanic population. This is an important topic because stroke is a major factor that can lead to LOE, and previous research has shown that strokes happen more frequently in non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic communities compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) individuals. By analyzing data from the Northern Manhattan Study, researchers sought to understand how LOE rates vary among these groups and whether the impact of stroke on LOE risk changes depending on race or ethnicity.

In a recent study, researchers set out to determine how much improvement in quality of life is clinically important for children with epilepsy, using two specific questionnaires: the 55-item Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE-55) and its shorter 16-item version (QOLCE-16). They focused on understanding the Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for these questionnaires, which tells us how many points a child’s score needs to increase for it to be considered a significant improvement in their well-being.

Researchers are making strides in using wearable technology to monitor seizures, but a key hurdle remains: ensuring the quality of the signals these devices capture. The study dives into how different types of seizures influence the quality of biosignal recordings from wrist-worn devices, like accelerometers and blood volume pulse sensors. By understanding the relationship between seizure activity and signal quality, scientists hope to improve the reliability of seizure detection systems.