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Epilepsy treatment: a paradigm shift is urgently need
Ana Paula Bartmann1, Josemir W Sander
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|April 9, 2013
Summary
Epilepsy impacts many, with limited understanding of its causes and triggers. Future treatments aim to modify the disease by targeting epileptogenesis, moving beyond current symptomatic approaches.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Epilepsy affects 5-10 per 1,000 individuals, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
- The polygenic inheritance of a lowered seizure threshold is complex and not fully understood.
- Current antiepileptic drugs, despite numbering over 20, have not dramatically altered the long-term prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of current epilepsy understanding and treatment.
- To advocate for a paradigm shift towards understanding epileptogenesis.
- To emphasize the potential for disease-modifying therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on epilepsy pathophysiology and treatment.
- Analysis of the current state of antiepileptic drug development.
- Discussion of the concept of epileptogenesis.
Main Results:
- The pathophysiology of epilepsy and seizure triggers remain largely unknown for most patients.
- The exact mechanisms of epileptogenesis vary significantly among individuals.
- Existing treatments primarily offer symptomatic relief rather than addressing the underlying disease process.
Conclusions:
- A deeper understanding of epileptogenesis is crucial for developing truly disease-modifying therapies for epilepsy.
- Future research should focus on targeting specific mechanisms of epileptogenesis.
- A paradigm shift from symptomatic treatment to disease modification holds promise for improving epilepsy outcomes.
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