Epilepsy

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Epilepsy

• P. Ockuly, Champlin Park H.S.
• B. Tapper, Agape H.S.

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Epilepsy

1. Defining Epilepsy
2. Categories of seizures
3. Neuron anatomy and physiology Review
4. Treatments
5. Living with Epilepsy (seizures)
6. Controversies
7. Research

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Epilepsy the misconception
Is a specific disease
It is an Umbrella Term for having 2 or More
Seizures in the Brain
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The Epilepsy Labelis given when 2 more seizures
occur in the brain (cortex)
A Seizure is massive disruption of electrical
communication between neurons in the brain
leading to temporary release of excessive energy
in a synchronized form.
-epilepsyfoundation.org
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Epilepsy is NOT

• A muscle twitch
• A seizure caused from a fever

• A leg cramp
• Secondary conditions from illness or disease.

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Facts About Epilepsy

• Also known as seizure disorder
• About 3 million people in America affected
• About 50 million people world wide
• Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland) was affected

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Epilepsy

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vMRZY2a2jnuw
• The video shows a person going through a
• Tonic-clonic (Grand Mal Seizure) seizure. It is
  the most dramatic type of seizure.

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Categories of seizures

• Simple
• Partial - don't result in loss of
  consciousness
• Complex Partial -staring and non-purposeful
  movements such as hand rubbing, twitching,
  chewing, swallowing or walking in circles.

• Generalized 4 types
• petit mal (Thymus and Cortex) -staring and
  subtle body movement, and can cause a brief loss
  of consciousness
• myoclonic - sudden jerks or twitches
• atonic - suddenly collapse or fall down
• tonic-clonic - loss of consciousness, body
  stiffening and shaking, and loss of bladder
  control

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EEG used as a confirmation tool

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What Causes Epilepsy?

• Head Trauma- that penetrates the brain about 50
  chance developing Epilepsy.
• Illness-Heart Attack, Stroke, Meningitis, AIDS
• Genetics . On going quest!
• Prenatal Injury-Infection, Poor Nutrition, Oxygen
  Deficiencies
• Developmental Disorders- Autism, Down Syndrome
• Unknown- accounts for 50

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Neuron anatomy and physiology Review
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Neurological Cause(Different Kinds)

• Mutation in ion channels (K, Na, Ca and Cl-)
• Mutation in GABA, Glutamate receptor

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TreatmentsMedications 60 75 managed.

• Blockers of repetitive activation of the sodium
  channel
• Enhancer of slow inactivation of the sodium
  channel
• GABA receptor enhancers
• Glutamate modulators
• Calcium channel blockers
• Current modulators
• Neuronal potassium channel (KCNQ Kv7) opener

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Treatments

• Food Ketogentic Diet (low carbs and protein
  high Fat)
• Vagel Nerve Stimulation
• Surgeries 25 - must be focal and located in a
  nonessential part of the brain i.e. Right side of
  Temporal Lobe.

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Living with Epilepsy

• Normal Safety concerns
• Uncertainty
• Learning and memory storage and retrieval
• Dr. Rothman received 2 calls during our hour
  conversation

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Controversies

• Medical Marijuana
• Dogs
• Surgeries

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Research

• Across disciplines Physiology, Chemical,
  Neurology, Physics
• Example Caged GABA
• During a seizure LED lights that break bonds on
  caged GABA releasing GABA
• A device to predict a seizure

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GABA
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Credits

• Dr. Steven Rothman, Professor of Pediatrics
  University of Minnesota and Director of the
  Division of Clinical Neuroscience Pediatrics
• Massachusetts General Website http//www2.massgen
  eral.org/childhoodepilepsy/child/index.htmlearnin
  g
• www. epilepseyfoundation.org
• http//new.epilepsyfoundation.org/africanamerican
• http//www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-125916/Epi
  lepsy?qepilepsysymptomssymptoms
• http//emedicine.medscape.com/article/1184846-trea
  tmentaw2aab6b6b8