Epilepsy Treatment: New Advancements & Therapies Available
Neurological conditions, or illnesses caused in the brain and the spinal cord have always been one of the most complicated issues in the medical field. As per a research, almost about a 7th of the world’s population face one or other neurological problem at least once in their lifetime. That makes almost a billion people in the world.
Amongst several kinds of neurological conditions, Epilepsy happens to be that kind of disorder requiring utmost care and consideration. The characteristic behavioral traits of this disorder are abnormal brain activity. This ‘out-of-the-blue’ spikes in brain activity results in unusual behavior and sensations, sudden mood swings, loss of awareness, and the worst, seizures. There is no certainty that a person belonging to a certain gender, race, or age will only develop epilepsy. That is the reason why about 65 million people in the world are suffering from epilepsy of varying degrees.
So far, the treatment for Epilepsy was focused on the reduction of seizures to enable living with the condition. However, in the last decade, things have started to change for Epileptic patients because of the introduction of newer drugs and treatment options available in the field. Here is a look at what the new advancements in epilepsy treatment look like:
● New Drugs: The last 10 years have seen the development of a number of new medicines, many of which have now become the norm of the field. The best part about them is the lesser side-effects and better map-ability of the condition. Recently, a new drug Epidiolex was found effective against severe seizures.
● Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): The vagus nerve runs to the brain through our neck. Research conducted in recent times have shown that stimulation can help blocking the impulses that begin a seizure. VNS has shown the capability to make a person seizure free.
● Epileptic Surgery: Surgeries are not the last resort anymore. In cases of epilepsy, when the medications and therapies don’t work, surgeries have proved to do wonders for the patients. About 60% of the patients showed complete release from seizures when operated for temporal lobectomy.
● Implants: In some cases where the medicines have ceased to show effects and surgery is not an option, there are a number of implants that help in the stimulation of the factors that control the seizures. Apart from VNS, there is a new implant called the NeuorPace, which is placed at the place where the seizures are suspected to arrise.
● Ketogenic Diet or Keto Diet: An effective method for children with severe cases of epilepsy, the keto diet is becoming more and more famous. Keto works to starve our body of glucose, directing the brain to burn ketones to power itself. This, in turn, brings the seizures in control and makes children almost scot-free of seizures as they grow up.
Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological disorder in the world after migraines, strokes, and Alzheimer’s. Taking a grasp on the ability of a patient’s brain to work, epilepsy has now begun to shrink in size because of the modern developments in the treatment options available. Leading the scene in the city are the best neurology and neurosurgery doctors in Jodhpur, - Dr. Kirti, Dr. SN Mathuriya, Dr. Pankaj Gupta and Dr. Rahul Ved at the department of neuroscience in Medipulse. These departments look after a number of neurological conditions, book your appointment now!