Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 4, 2025

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
08:23

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy

Published on: November 13, 2016

11.2K

Multimorbidity in people with epilepsy

Athanasios Gaitatzis1, Azeem Majeed2

  • 1Epilepsy Research Group, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia; Neurology Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia.

Seizure
|April 6, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, significantly impacts people with epilepsy (PWE). Addressing this requires a shift towards person-centered care to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Public Health
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Multimorbidity is a growing healthcare concern, linked to aging populations and increased care demands.
  • It affects a significant portion of individuals with epilepsy (PWE), including children and adults.
  • Common comorbidities in PWE include neurodevelopmental, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significant impact of multimorbidity on people with epilepsy (PWE).
  • To advocate for a paradigm shift in managing PWE towards a person-centered approach.
  • To emphasize the need for research assessing multimorbidity burden and its effects on PWE.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on multimorbidity in epilepsy.
  • Analysis of associations between epilepsy, aging, and various chronic conditions.
  • Identification of factors contributing to multimorbidity in PWE.

Main Results:

  • Multimorbidity affects 60-70% of adult PWE and 80% of children with epilepsy.
  • PWE with multimorbidity face higher risks of depression, suicide, premature death, and lower quality of life.
  • Increased hospital admissions and healthcare costs are associated with multimorbidity in PWE.

Conclusions:

  • Managing multimorbid PWE necessitates a move from single-disease models to a person-centered strategy.
  • Assessing the burden of multimorbidity, identifying disease clusters, and measuring health outcomes are crucial for improving care.
  • A comprehensive approach is needed to address the complex health needs of multimorbid individuals with epilepsy.

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Eye Tracking and Single-Neuron Recordings in Human Epilepsy Patients07:43

Simultaneous Eye Tracking and Single-Neuron Recordings in Human Epilepsy Patients

Published on: June 17, 2019

7.8K
Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

20.4K

Related Concept Videos

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...
234
Seizures: Classification01:13

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:
484
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...
448
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.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
482
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

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...
368
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

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...
228