Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases and can affect anyone, at any time in life. The risk is greatest during the first year of life and after the age of 70. Now,
brain research more money to continue the search for cures.
Epilepsy is a generic term for several types of seizures with different causes. The diagnosis of epilepsy, the person who had recurrent seizures that are not provoked by any temporary external influences, so-called unprovoked epileptic seizures.
Greater risk of injury and a social handicap
The assault appears different for different types of epilepsy but not infrequently suffer one of impaired consciousness, loss of consciousness and or muscle cramps.
- The risk of damage is large in relation to an attack. To have this type of uncontrolled seizures is also a major social handicap and can be quite detrimental, for example, a school situation.
Of the 60 000 people who suffer from the disease of epilepsy is approximately
10,000 children. The annual new cases is estimated at 4400, of whom 1,000 are children under 16. One can mention in this context that some 12 500 people have seizures every month.
New Epilepsy treatments are needed
The most common
treatment for epilepsy are drugs that attenuate or completely block the attacks. About 25 percent of patients do not achieve seizure control with medication.
- It is clear that new drugs must be developed as well as alternative therapies such as surgical treatment of epilepsy must be utilized to a greater degree. The prerequisite for successful epilepsy surgery is that you can locate where in the brain the epileptic neuron hearth is located. Therefore further research king very important, says Roland Flink.
The underlying mechanisms for the onset of epilepsy is largely unknown. It has been shown in previous studies that a inbalans between activating and inhibitory nerve impulses in the brain's neural networks are likely to play a major role.
- It is therefore of interest to study the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and their receivers on neurons in epileptic foci in the brain. This can be done with a technique in which radioactive tracers can label these cell areas of the brain in humans and visualize this by recording the activity of pet imaging technology..
Pet technique shows where the excitatory and inhibitory areas are located in the brain. Areas with increased activation may indicate where seizures start in the brain. The method also provides information on injury mechanisms in the form of nerve cell loss and scarring that may result from repeated or prolonged seizures.
When an attack come on Epilepsy
It is not true that you can swallow your tongue during a seizure. Do not try to hold onto that person and do not do artificial respiration.
If anyone gets an
epileptic seizure, it is important that you stay calm:
• Remove sharp or hard objects that could damage.
• Sites like something soft under the head.
• Loosen the clothes that are too tight around the neck.
• Do not put anything in the person's mouth!