Download Predicting and Preventing Epileptic Seizures

Predicting and Preventing
Epileptic Seizures
Nicholas Paiva
November 14, 2012
What Is Epilepsy?
 Epilepsy is a neurological disease that causes random,
uncontrollable seizures.
 Some epileptic patients will have over 100 seizures per
day, while others will have one every few years.
 Occurs in all age groups but most prominent in infants
and the elderly
 Fourth most common disorder of the nervous systemaffects 65 million people (1-2%) of world population
 30% of those with epilepsy are not helped by medication
and therefore surgery is their only other option.
Effects of Epilepsy
 Seizures can have negative affects on the person’s
social, educational, vocational, and family lifestyle.
 Long seizures can cause permanent damage to the
neural wiring within the brain
 Loss of neurotransmitter receptors in the hippocampusaffects memory
 Sclerosis-increase in glial cell elements
 Drop out of neurons
List of Prescription Drugs Used to
Treat Epilepsy
 Tegretol or Carbatrol
(carbamazepine)
 Zarontin (ethosuximide)
 Felbatol (felbamate)
 Gabitril (tiagabine)
 Keppra (levetiracetam)
 Lamictral (lamotrigine)
 Lyrica (pregabalin)
 Neurontin (Gabapentin)
 Dilantin (Phenytoin)
 Topamax
 Trileptal
(oxcarbazepine)
 Zonegran (zonisamide)
 Depakene, Depakote
(valproate, valproic
acid)
 Ativan (lorazepam)
 Valium ( diazepam)
Side Effects of Drugs
 Fatigue
 vision changes
 nausea
 dizziness
 rash
 vomiting
 decreased appetite
 weight loss
Predicting Seizures
 Seizures were originally thought to be random but
studies show that they can be predicted due to
physiological changes directly before the seizure occurs.
 Has been proven that there are changes in cerebral
blood flow just before a seizure
 Mathematical algorithms have been derived describing
the function of different regions of the brain before,
during and after a seizure.
Locating the Problem
 A miniature transmitter is implanted just below the
scalp and electrodes are surgically placed on different
regions of the brain
 The electrodes send information regarding brain activity
to the transmitter
 The transmitter communicates with an external
receiver.
 When irregular electrical activity is detected, the
external receiver will determine which region of the
brain is causing the seizures.
Neuroprosthetic Solutions
 Purdue University has developed specially engineered
neurons that are designed to release GABA when
stimulated.
 GABA is a neurotransmitter that will prevent the seizure
from spreading to the rest of the brain.
 These neurons are basically living tissue with a
microchip attached that can stimulate tissue when
electric current is sent through the chip.
 The tissue refills itself and is able to release
concentrated doses of GABA only to the appropriate
site.
Challenges
 The prosthetic device must be small, durable, and safe
for the body
 More information must be gathered regarding how
electrical signals affect neural tissue
 Electrical stimulation must be of the right voltage so
that damage to the brain doesn’t occur
 Eliminating false alarms
Future
 Currently, the technology is still in clinical trials but
human testing should be underway within the next 2-3
years.
 Research on epilepsy and specifically how it affects the
nervous system is still underway
 Help people with epileptic episodes to live normal,
seizure-free lives
Works Cited
 "About Epilepsy." Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsy Foundation, n.d. Web. 9 Nov.
2012. <http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/>.
 "Asian Correspondent Asia News." Biomedical Engineers Research to Control
Epilepsy. Melborne University, 3 Aug. 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://
asiancorrespondent.com/87000/biomedical-engineers-research-to-controlepilepsy/>.
 "Common Epilepsy Seizure Medications: Types, Uses, Effects, and More."
Epilepsy Drugs to Treat Seizures. WebMD, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://
www.webmd.com/epilepsy/medications-treat-seizures>.
 Iaesemidis, Leon E. "Epileptic Seizure Prediction and Control." IEEE Transactions on
Biomedical Engineering. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.<http://
ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=>.
 Johnson, Carolyn. "Treating Epilepsy with Electrodes." Abc Local. N.p., 11 July
2008. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.
 "Nueroprosthesis for Epileptic Seizures." Nueroprosthesis for Epileptic Seizures.
Purdue University, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fountia.com/
nueroprosthesis-epileptic-seizures>.