There may be a way to foresee seizures.
A recent study has found that monitoring abnormal brain activity patterns can help predict the likelihood of seizures in people with epilepsy within the next 24 hours. Researchers discovered that unusual communication between specific brain regions precedes the intense activity associated with seizures. By analyzing just 90 seconds of these atypical brain signals, they believe they can forecast seizure risk, according to their report in Nature Medicine.
This finding has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of life for the 2.9 million Americans with epilepsy. Dr. Vikram Rao, the lead researcher and a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), explained, “We now have a better understanding of the changes in brain activity leading up to a seizure. This could help alleviate one of the most challenging aspects of epilepsy: its unpredictability.”
Currently, predicting seizures involves collecting data over extended periods, with accuracy varying by individual and method. Some patients have implants that monitor brain activity and use electrical stimulation to prevent seizures, but these devices sometimes react too late. To improve these implants, Rao’s team analyzed brain activity from 15 patients with epilepsy who had recorded months of data.
The researchers focused on seizures originating from the hippocampus, a key brain area involved in many types of epilepsy. They found that abnormal communication between the two hippocampi increases in the days before a seizure. Typically, the hippocampi function independently, but their increased interaction was a consistent precursor to seizures among the participants. This pattern could be detected with just 90 seconds of data, allowing for predictions about seizure risk within a day.
Having a day’s notice can enable individuals with epilepsy to take necessary precautions, such as avoiding driving or arranging for support. “These predictions can provide reassurance, allowing individuals to go about their daily lives with greater confidence,” said researcher Ankit Khambhati. The team plans to further test this method with a larger group of patients and different epilepsy types, and aims to develop non-invasive brain scanning techniques in the future.
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