World Awareness Day on the Epilepsycelebrated on Wednesday (26), is a date dedicated to extending the understanding and global dialogue on the chronic neurological disorder.
The disease is caused by changes in the electrical activity of the brain, without distinction of profile: anyone, regardless of age or lifestyle, can have the condition.
Crises vary from widespread seizures to more subtle episodes, such as localized involuntary movements or momentary losses of consciousness.
One of the most advanced treatments for the condition is deep brain stimulation (or DBS – Deep Brain Stimulationin the acronym), a procedure that is transforming the lives of patients with refractory epilepsy.
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Determining the type of epilepsy allows a more effective treatment approach. About 70% of patients are able to control their crises with antiepileptic drugs, patients with refractory epilepsy can benefit from advanced treatments such as DBS.
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This minimally invasive treatment has been studied for years and was detailed in the scientific journal Epilepsia. Recently, therapy has undergone a systematic review, which has identified an increase in effectiveness over the years.
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The procedure involves the implementation of electrodes in specific areas of the brain, such as the Talamic nucleus or the hippocampus, which are connected to a neurostimulator to modulate neural activity. This device receives constant stimuli, with the purpose of blocking or interrupting abnormal impulses of electrical activity in the brain.
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“DBS has been effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of crises, with minimal adverse effects, causing improvement in quality of life for patients facing severe limitations,” explains Marcelo Valadares, functional neurosurgeon and researcher at Unicamp neurosurgery discipline.
See myths and truths about epilepsy
The word epilepsy is of Greek origin and means “surprise” or “unexpected event.” The name relates well to the condition. Abbott, a global health care company, has created a list to demystify the disease, with information from expert Maria Luiza Giraldes de Manza, PhD in Neurology and Supervisor of the Discipline of Children’s Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine (FMUSP).
Are seizures controlled with medicines? Yes! In the vast majority of cases (70%), epileptic seizures are controlled with drug administration.
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Is epilepsy a contagious disease? Myth! Epilepsy is not a contagious disease.
Can the patient with epilepsy be able to live a normal life? Myth! Most people with epilepsy are able to have a normal life as long as they are properly treated and keep full adherence to this treatment.
Do patients with epilepsy have learning difficulties? Partial myth. Most patients with epilepsy have no learning difficulty or mental changes.
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Some may have these symptoms due to the cause of epilepsy, such as nervous system malformation, neonatal anoxia sequelae, etc. Other people have these symptoms associated with epilepsy, since the disease may have comorbidities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, general learning disorders, psychiatric disorders depression) etc.
Are seizure and epileptic attack the same thing? Myth! Seizure is the term used for those epileptic seizures characterized by motor or convulsive symptoms, such as the tonic-clonic crisis, where the patient falls to the floor and hits.
The epileptic attack, in turn, is the epileptic crisis itself and comprises all types of crises, ie those with motor, sensitive, sensory, etc. symptoms. These terms are generally not used by doctors, but are common in society.
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Do children require more care for disease than adults? True! Because they are dependent and do not have a real notion of the importance of treatment, children deserve special attention from parents and/or caregivers, both in their routine and the use of medication.
Can children with epilepsy not be able to live a normal life? Myth! They can lead a normal life as long as they do treatment correctly and are subjected to some care, as the child is not always mature to distinguish what can trigger a crisis. Higher children and adolescents should know that they are as capable as anyone else’s age, but have some limitations due to the disease (such as cognitive or locomotion difficulties in some cases).
Are epileptic seizures in children different from those presented by adults? Partial myth. Childhood crises are different with regard to the presence of certain epileptic syndromes, usually of genetic origin, which have different evolution.
