Absence Epilepsy

Researchers are studying adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition marked by difficulties in communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. The study aims to understand how a brain stimulation technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might reduce symptoms like anxiety and impulsivity. The research also seeks to use brain activity data and clinical information to predict who will respond well to this treatment. Participants will receive active tDCS for 10 sessions over two weeks, one session per day on working days. During each 20-minute session, they will perform exercises designed to improve processing speed and executive function while receiving brain stimulation. After treatment, participants will be classified as responders or non-responders based on improvements in social responsiveness scores. Throughout the study, participants will undergo various assessments including behavioral scales, cognitive tests, and neurophysiological measurements at the start and after the treatment period. Researchers will track changes in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and brain function. This will help determine the effects of tDCS and identify characteristics that predict treatment response, with the total study duration extending up to the final follow-up in 2026.

Researchers are developing a multicenter registry to collect and share data on pediatric patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders such as dystonia, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, and mood disorders. The study aims to improve understanding of DBS safety and effectiveness in children, as current data are limited and individual centers often have too few cases for strong research. This registry will support large-scale analyses and help refine DBS as a treatment option for hyperkinetic movement disorders in the pediatric population. The study involves gathering both retrospective and prospective clinical data from multiple pediatric centers. The registry will collect information on surgical techniques, patient outcomes, implant sites, and long-term effects of DBS. This collaborative data-sharing approach enables comprehensive evaluation of which patients benefit most from DBS and how it impacts their quality of life over time. Participants include children aged 0 to 18 years who have already received or are scheduled to receive DBS for neurological movement disorders. Data will be collected over five years to monitor safety, efficacy, and quality of life outcomes. The study does not involve treatment administration but focuses on gathering and analyzing clinical information. Parental or legal guardian consent is required for prospective participation.

Researchers are investigating epilepsy-dyskinesia syndromes, which are rare genetic diseases causing both movement disorders and epilepsy in children. This multinational retrospective survey, supported by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, aims to collect detailed clinical and molecular data to better understand these conditions. The study focuses on identifying patterns in disease features, progression, and genetic links to improve knowledge and support precision medicine. The study collects previously recorded data from multiple countries, harmonizing information on clinical features, disease progression, age of onset, genetic variants, and coexisting neurological conditions. By standardizing this data, the survey addresses challenges in rare disease research like small, dispersed patient groups and inconsistent protocols. The goal is to build a shared clinical database and analyze how movement and seizure disorders relate at both clinical and molecular levels. Participants are children aged 0 to 18 years with diagnosed movement disorders linked to specific genetic variants. The study reviews existing medical records and genetic information without new treatments or interventions. Researchers will assess the disease spectrum, how movement disorders affect quality of life, and the effectiveness of symptomatic treatments over one year. The study encourages international collaboration to advance understanding and improve care for these rare conditions.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of NPT 2042, a new anti-seizure drug, compared with placebo in people aged 16 to 75 years who have genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) with absence seizures. This study aims to measure how these treatments affect the frequency and duration of absence seizures using electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. The trial is a Phase 2, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study sponsored by NeuroPro Therapeutics, Inc. Participants will receive either NPT 2042 or a matching placebo twice daily during two treatment periods separated by a 14-day washout. Two different doses of NPT 2042 (80mg and 160mg twice daily) will be tested. Each participant will receive both the active drug and placebo at different times in a randomized order to compare the effects directly. During the study, participants will undergo EEG monitoring for seizure activity and complete assessments like the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Questionnaire, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Researchers will track changes in seizure frequency and duration over up to 12 weeks, monitor safety, and evaluate overall quality of life and cognitive function. The total study duration includes treatment and follow-up periods to assess outcomes.

Researchers are studying the long-term safety and tolerability of brivaracetam in children and young people diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy or juvenile absence epilepsy. This Phase 3 trial is open-label and single-arm, focusing on participants who have previously been involved in related studies and are expected to benefit from continued brivaracetam treatment. The study is sponsored by UCB Biopharma SRL and will run until March 2030. Participants will receive brivaracetam either as an oral solution or film-coated tablet, taken twice daily in equal doses. The study involves one treatment arm where various doses of brivaracetam are administered continuously. The treatment period can last up to three years, allowing researchers to observe the long-term effects of the medication. During the study, participants will be monitored for treatment-emergent adverse events, including serious side effects and any events leading to stopping the medication. Safety assessments will take place from the initial visit through up to three years of follow-up. The study will collect data on the frequency and nature of adverse events to evaluate the safety profile of brivaracetam over extended use in this young population.

Researchers are evaluating the use of Pulsed Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (PLIFU) to reduce or suppress seizure activity in adults experiencing non-convulsive or focal motor status epilepticus (SE) who have not responded to standard treatments. The study focuses on brain regions that generate or control seizures, aiming to assess the effects of this non-invasive brain stimulation in a hospital setting. Participants will receive up to two sessions of PLIFU treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. Each session lasts 10 minutes and uses a custom device that delivers ultrasound to specific brain areas without damaging tissue. Treatments will be given after anti-seizure medications have been administered, and the ultrasound is applied using safe, non-thermal settings. During the study, participants will be monitored continuously with surface EEG to measure epileptic brain activity before, during, and after PLIFU treatment. Researchers will observe changes in seizure activity and follow participants throughout their hospital stay. The main outcome is the change in epileptiform activity measured by EEG at baseline and 10 minutes after treatment. The study aims to gather preliminary data to support future research.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of BMB-101 in reducing seizure frequency in adults with Absence Epilepsy, including Epilepsy with Eyelid Myoclonia (Jeavons Syndrome), as well as Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathies such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. This open-label Phase 2 study will last up to six months and aims to better understand how BMB-101 may impact these conditions. Participants will take BMB-101 liquid orally twice daily for up to three months. The study includes a one-month screening period, followed by the treatment phase with dose adjustments (titration and tapering/washout), and then a one-month follow-up period. There will be six clinic visits during the study to monitor progress and safety. Participants will be asked to complete seizure diaries and attend scheduled clinic visits for evaluations. Researchers will use 24-hour EEGs to measure changes in seizure activity and generalized spike-wave discharges, along with assessments of quality of life. The study will monitor safety, tolerability, and seizure frequency changes over a total participation period of about six months.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and feasibility of two EEG-guided treatment strategies for controlling refractory status epilepticus after cardiac arrest. This Phase II clinical trial focuses on unconscious patients who have been resuscitated from cardiac arrest but develop seizures that are resistant to standard anti-seizure medications. The study aims to determine whether guiding anesthetic treatment to achieve burst suppression or seizure suppression on EEG is more effective for seizure control in this critical condition. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive intravenous anesthesia adjusted to produce burst suppression on continuous EEG for 24 hours, while the other group will receive anesthesia aimed at seizure suppression on EEG for the same duration. If seizures recur, the assigned EEG target treatment may be repeated for another 24-hour cycle. After the treatment periods, anesthetics will be tapered with continued EEG monitoring. During the study, researchers will closely monitor seizure control, neurological function at discharge and up to 180 days later, seizure recurrence, and treatment intensity. Safety monitoring includes watching for side effects like low blood pressure and metabolic complications related to anesthetics. The total study duration includes initial treatment and follow-up assessments to evaluate outcomes such as death or disability and seizure recurrence within specified timeframes.

Researchers are investigating brain activity patterns and seizure dynamics in patients with acute brain injury who have impaired consciousness. The study aims to better understand the neural networks involved in consciousness and improve diagnostic and prognostic tools during intensive care. It focuses on overcoming limitations of current EEG monitoring by using advanced intracranial electrodes for more precise brain activity measurement. Participants undergo placement of intracranial electrodes in the cortico-subcortical system to continuously monitor brain signals with high spatial and temporal resolution. This setup enables detection of seizures and study of thalamocortical network behavior in unresponsive patients. The study observes effects of brain stimulation and tracks neural profiles over time, including during the first 4 weeks after electrode implantation. During the study, participants receive continuous brain monitoring and behavioral assessments using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. Researchers measure seizure activity through intracranial and scalp EEG, analyze neural complexity, and evaluate responses to electrical stimulation. Long-term outcomes are assessed at 6 months and 1 year. The study supports improved patient stratification and may inform future treatments to aid recovery of consciousness.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by challenges in communication, social skills, and behavior. Researchers are evaluating the effects of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, to improve cognitive and social functions in adolescents with ASD. The study aims to understand how tDCS may affect brain mechanisms and assess if booster sessions can enhance and prolong benefits. Participants will receive either active or sham tDCS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, applied during executive function training tasks over 10 sessions within two weeks. The active stimulation involves 20 minutes of current, while the sham group experiences brief initial stimulation only. Responders will enter a six-month follow-up phase receiving randomized booster sessions of active or sham tDCS bi-monthly for three months, then monthly for another three months. During the trial, participants will be assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale and neuropsychological cognitive tests at multiple time points up to 26 weeks. Researchers will monitor social responsiveness changes and clinical responses to tDCS. The study includes careful monitoring of cognitive and social improvements, with evaluations before, during, and after treatment to understand the lasting effects and safety of tDCS in ASD adolescents.