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Related Concept Videos

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

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...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers, a class of antiepileptic drugs, regulate the flow of calcium ions within neurons.
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
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Dietary therapies for epilepsy.

Eric H Kossoff1, Huei-Shyong Wang

  • 1Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. ekossoff@jhmi.edu

Biomedical Journal
|March 22, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Ketogenic diets, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate approach, effectively manage refractory childhood epilepsy, with about half of children experiencing seizure reduction. These diets are also being explored for other neurological conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Dietary Therapy

Background:

  • Ketogenic diets, established in 1921, are primarily used for drug-resistant childhood epilepsy.
  • Historically a last resort, ketogenic diets are now initiated earlier due to improved formulations and modified approaches.
  • Infantile spasms (West syndrome) show approximately 50% success with ketogenic diets as a first-line treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy and application of ketogenic diets in epilepsy management.
  • To explore the mechanisms of action, including mitochondrial involvement.
  • To discuss the potential of ketogenic diets for non-epileptic neurological conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical and current literature on ketogenic diet therapy for epilepsy.

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  • Analysis of efficacy rates for various epilepsy syndromes, including infantile spasms.
  • Examination of newer dietary modifications like the modified Atkins diet.
  • Discussion of emerging research into ketogenic diets for other neurological disorders.

    • Main Results:

    • Ketogenic diets reduce seizures by at least half in approximately 50% of children with refractory epilepsy, with 15% becoming seizure-free.
    • Modified ketogenic diets and formulas facilitate earlier and broader application.
    • Alternative diets, such as the modified Atkins diet, offer easier initiation and fewer restrictions.
    • Potential applications are being investigated for Alzheimer's disease, autism, and brain tumors.

    Conclusions:

    • Ketogenic diets remain a vital therapeutic option for refractory childhood epilepsy, with ongoing advancements improving accessibility and efficacy.
    • The mechanisms underlying ketogenic diet efficacy, potentially involving mitochondria, warrant further investigation.
    • The versatility of ketogenic and modified ketogenic diets suggests broader therapeutic potential beyond epilepsy.