Epilepsy and consciousness
A woman with epilepsy appears to be the first person in whom scientists have successfully ‘switched off’ consciousness.
Stories about research
New hope for seizure control in a Himalayan flower
Scientists at the Robarts Research Institute may have found a new avenue of research that could lead to a new treatment for epilepsy. They believe they have found a new way to stop seizures – in a molecule from a Himalayan flower
The ongoing cannabis debate
Can the chemical compounds in cannabis effectively treat conditions like epilepsy? If they can, who should have access to them? Several US states are making medical marijuana legal while the American Epilepsy Society is calling for more research. The cannabis debate continues
‘Neural thermostat’ may regulate seizures
A study at Brandeis University in the US may have discovered an in-built ‘neural thermostat’ that might be regulating brain activity. This may help scientists better understand epilepsy – and treat it
The BRAIN initiative gathers momentum
Earlier this year, US President Barack Obama announced a pioneering initiative to help us better understand the human brain. The initiative is now gearing up to fulfil its ambitious brief, having released an interim report into its progress
Human trials of cannabis treatment
After a lengthy pre-clinical research programme at the University of Reading, GW Pharmaceuticals has begun human trials of a chemical compound found in cannabis. This compound appears to help control seizures and with relatively few side-effects
New research into Dravet syndrome
Epilepsy Action and Dravet Syndrome UK have awarded a research grant to researchers at the UK’s Institute of Neurology. The grant is to fund research into Dravet syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy. The money was given by TeamMAX, a fund set up in memory of Max Miller, who had Dravet syndrome, and died as a result of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) in June 2011.
Exercise curbs epilepsy in men
The case for keeping fit continues to gather pace. Now it’s been extended to cover helping to ward off developing epilepsy in later life – if you’re a man.
A new Swedish study shows that young men with a fit heart showed a lower risk of developing epilepsy later in life.
Tests on zebrafish could hold key for future epilepsy treatment
What do zebrafish and antihistamine have in common? Surprisingly, it’s epilepsy! According to a report on the Nature website, scientists have found that seizures in zebrafish can be controlled by giving them clemizole, an antihistamine drug that’s been around since the 1950s.
Scientists build ‘mini brains’ in lab
Although a fully-formed artificial brain is still a long way off, scientists have found that they can assemble stem cells into ‘brain-like chunks of tissue’. Stem cells are cells that can change into any kind of cell in a living organism. This development could one day help scientists to develop new drugs to treat conditions like epilepsy.
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