View clinical trials related to Epilepsy Intractable.
Filter by:In this exploratory trial, the potential anti-seizure activity of clioquinol in a small cohort of adolescents with drug-resistant epilepsy will be examined. Subjects will be exposed to clioquinol add-on for a period of maximum 8 weeks (2 weeks low dose, 6 weeks higher dose). The main hypothesis of the study is that 30% of the included subjects will be responders and that the median seizure frequency reduction will be at least 30%.
Spatial navigation is a fundamental human behavior, and deficits in navigational functions are among the hallmark symptoms of severe neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Understanding how the human brain processes and encodes spatial information is thus of critical importance for the development of therapies for affected patients. Previous studies have shown that the brain forms neural representations of spatial information, via spatially-tuned activity of single neurons (e.g., place cells, grid cells, or head direction cells), and by the coordinated oscillatory activity of cell populations. The vast majority of these studies have focused on the encoding of self-related spatial information, such as one's own location, orientation, and movements. However, everyday tasks in social settings require the encoding of spatial information not only for oneself, but also for other people in the environment. At present, it is largely unknown how the human brain accomplishes this important function, and how aspects of human cognition may affect these spatial encoding mechanisms. This project therefore aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms that underlie the encoding of spatial information and awareness of others. Specifically, the proposed research plan will determine how human deep brain oscillations and single-neuron activity allow us to keep track of other individuals as they move through our environment. Next, the project will determine whether these spatial encoding mechanisms are specific to the encoding of another person, or whether they can be used more flexibly to support the encoding of moving inanimate objects and even more abstract cognitive functions such as imagined navigation. Finally, the project will determine how spatial information is encoded in more complex real-world scenarios, when multiple information sources (e.g., multiple people) are present. To address these questions, intracranial medial temporal lobe activity will be recorded from two rare participant groups: (1) Participants with permanently implanted depth electrodes for the treatment of focal epilepsy through responsive neurostimulation (RNS), who provide a unique opportunity to record deep brain oscillations during free movement and naturalistic behavior; and (2) hospitalized epilepsy patients with temporarily implanted intracranial electrodes in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU), from whom joint oscillatory and single-neuron activity can be recorded.
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain which is associated with disabling seizures and affects 100,000 people under 25. Many children with epilepsy also have a learning disability or problems with development. Although better outcomes occur in children who are successfully treated early for their epilepsy, 25% continue to have seizures despite best medical treatment. One potential treatment is a neurosurgical operation to remove parts of the brain that generate seizures. A proportion of these children have electrodes inserted into their brains as part of their clinical assessment, termed stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), to help localise these regions. Subsequent surgery is not always successful - up to 40% of children will have ongoing seizures 5 years after surgery. The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of specially designed SEEG electrodes which can measure signals from single brain cells. These electrodes record the same clinical information as normal SEEG electrodes and are implanted in the same way, but can give the research team extra information at the same time. The investigators aim to assess whether studying the changes in the firing of individual cells, both during and between seizures, improves our ability to localise seizures and therefore improve outcomes following surgery. As part of this research project, the investigators will not be doing anything that is not already part of the normal investigation and treatment for these children. Children will be recruited to the study during routine outpatient clinic visits. Surgical planning and execution will not be affected. The electrodes are CE licensed for clinical use and do not alter the risks of the operation. Following the period of monitoring, the care of these children would not be altered in any way. The investigators aim to recruit 30 patients over 3 years. In addition to dissemination via scientific publications and presentations, the findings will be shared with participants and the public.