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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...

Seizures: Classification

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:

Seizures ll: Types

Seizures ll: Types

Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...

Seizures l: Introduction

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...

Epilepsy ll: Types

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

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Updated: May 25, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

[Vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy].

Kensuke Kawai¹, Kenichi Usami, Nobuhito Saito

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.

Rinsho Shinkeigaku = Clinical Neurology

|January 27, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective epilepsy therapy, now expanding in Japan. Further research is needed to confirm its efficacy in children and generalized seizures.

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Area of Science:

Neurology and Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering

Context:

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is the first approved electrical stimulation therapy for epilepsy.
VNS received EU approval in 1994 and US approval in 1997, with recent approval and insurance coverage in Japan.
Its minimally invasive nature and broad applicability suggest increasing use in Japan.

Purpose:

To review the current status and future prospects of vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy treatment in Japan.
To highlight the need for further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in specific patient subpopulations.
To discuss the neurobiological mechanisms underlying VNS's anti-epileptic effects.

Summary:

VNS efficacy for refractory partial seizures in patients over 13 years old is supported by RCTs.
Efficacy in pediatric patients and those with generalized seizures requires further RCT validation.
VNS modulates cortical excitability via afferent pathways to the solitary tract nucleus and monoamine systems.

Impact:

VNS is poised for wider adoption in Japan, offering a less invasive epilepsy treatment option.
Future research will clarify VNS efficacy in diverse epilepsy populations.
Elucidating VNS's precise anti-epileptic mechanisms will optimize therapeutic strategies.