Transcranial direct-current stimulation as treatment in epilepsy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Epileptology

Background:

• Neuromodulation (NM) offers complementary treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy.
• Established invasive techniques like vagal nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation reduce seizure frequency but are not curative.
• Non-invasive NM techniques are gaining traction for epilepsy management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on non-invasive NM, specifically transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), for epilepsy.
• To evaluate the efficacy and potential long-term effects of tDCS in epilepsy treatment based on existing studies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of animal and clinical studies on tDCS and other non-invasive NM in epilepsy.
• Analysis of PubMed search results to synthesize current findings.

Main Results:

• Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) modulates neuronal membrane potentials and cortical excitability.
• Cathodal tDCS induces cortical inhibition, a key mechanism for epilepsy treatment.
• A beneficial effect lasting beyond stimulation duration was observed in approximately 20% of patients, suggesting neuronal plasticity.

Conclusions:

• Non-invasive neuromodulation, particularly tDCS, presents a promising avenue for epilepsy treatment.
• The antiepileptic efficacy of tDCS warrants further systematic investigation.
• Observed long-lasting effects indicate potential for sustained seizure control through neuronal plasticity.