Revolutionary Method Could Open Up New Perspectives in Epilepsy Treatment

Hungarian researchers are developing a revolutionary new method that uses electrodes implanted under the scalp to detect the electrical signals of epileptic seizures in real time and reduce the number of seizures through targeted electrical stimulation. The developments underway at Semmelweis University and the University of Szeged are of particular importance in cases where patients do not respond to conventional drug treatments, the Budapest clinic reported on its website.

The report points out that epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide. Epileptic seizures vary greatly, but what they have in common is that they significantly impair patients’ daily lives and hinder them at work, in their studies, and in their social relationships. The situation is particularly serious for patients who do not respond to drug treatment and whose seizures are therefore unpredictable, says Dr. Loránd Erőss, neurosurgeon and director of the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurointervention at Semmelweis University.

Nearly 30 percent of epileptics are drug-resistant. For them, the new Hungarian development could represent a revolutionary breakthrough.

It works in a semi-invasive manner under the scalp, but without penetrating the skull, using electrodes. “Our plan is for the device currently under development to be operated by a small pacemaker, so that all of its components are located under the skin. Metal detectors may pick it up, but patients will always carry documentation confirming what metal devices are implanted in their bodies. We hope that this will enable us to effectively prevent epileptic seizures,” explains Dr. Loránd Erőss. The electrode located under the scalp continuously monitors the brain’s electrical activity and, at signs of an impending seizure, sends targeted electrical impulses that can prevent the seizure before its symptoms occur.

One of the biggest advantages of the procedure is that it does not require risky invasive surgery,”

emphasizes the director.

The Semmelweis University’s Clinical Center is one of the most important centers for epilepsy research and treatment in Hungary and also a leading institution for epilepsy research and treatment in Central Europe. For decades, clinical research on drugs and devices has been conducted here, including the introduction of state-of-the-art therapeutic methods. The clinical trial is being conducted by the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurointervention with the support of Neunos Zrt. (developer and supplier of medical devices) and a research group from the University of Szeged.

The study was launched in 2021, and since then, the research team has been working continuously to improve the effectiveness and reliability of the device and to ensure optimal treatment tailored to the patient.

If further studies confirm the effectiveness and safety of the method, it could represent a new treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy patients in the future and mark a breakthrough in epilepsy treatment even internationally.

Via semmelweis.hu, Featured image: Pexels

The post Revolutionary Method Could Open Up New Perspectives in Epilepsy Treatment appeared first on Hungary Today.

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