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Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

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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...
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Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

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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:
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Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

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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.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

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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...
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Disorders of the Nervous Tissue01:28

Disorders of the Nervous Tissue

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Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

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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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Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
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Epilepsy as a systemic condition: Link with somatic comorbidities.

J Novy1,2,3, G S Bell1,2, J L Peacock4,5

  • 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Queen Square, London.

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|June 3, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epilepsy is linked to more health problems, with severe epilepsy increasing comorbidity risk. The early period after epilepsy onset poses a particular risk for these conditions.

Keywords:
comorbidityepilepsy durationepilepsy severitygeneticmortalityrisk factorsseizures

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Individuals with epilepsy exhibit a higher prevalence of co-occurring medical conditions (comorbidities) compared to the general population.
  • These comorbidities significantly contribute to premature mortality in epilepsy patients.
  • This study aimed to develop hypotheses on the association between somatic comorbidities and epilepsy, excluding causal and treatment-related factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between epilepsy severity and the presence of somatic comorbidities.
  • To identify risk factors associated with somatic comorbidities in individuals with epilepsy.
  • To explore the temporal relationship between epilepsy onset and the burden of comorbidities.

Main Methods:

  • Collected clinical, demographic, and somatic comorbidity data from 2016 adults with epilepsy at a tertiary center and 1278 from the community.
  • Utilized multivariable ordinal regression analysis, adjusting for age.
  • Excluded underlying causes of epilepsy from being classified as comorbidities.

Main Results:

  • Somatic comorbidities were more prevalent in a tertiary referral center (49%) compared to the community (36%), correlating with more active epilepsy.
  • Longer epilepsy duration and the presence of an underlying brain lesion were independently associated with a lower comorbidity burden.
  • Shorter epilepsy duration predicted conditions with potentially significant mortality risks.

Conclusions:

  • Somatic comorbidities are not randomly distributed in epilepsy; more severe epilepsy appears to be a risk factor.
  • The period shortly after epilepsy onset presents a heightened risk for comorbidities, irrespective of age.
  • Epilepsy may be viewed as a systemic condition affecting multiple organs, not solely the central nervous system (CNS).