Absence Epilepsy

Researchers are investigating the use of transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS combined with cognitive training to address symptoms in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder ASD. ASD is characterized by challenges in communication, social skills, repetitive behaviors, and emotional distress triggered by environmental changes. This study aims to determine if baseline resting-state EEG and clinical data can predict which individuals respond to tDCS treatment, helping to improve intervention strategies. Participants will receive active tDCS over 10 sessions during two weeks, with one session per day on consecutive working days. Each session includes 20 minutes of tDCS combined with an online cognitive training program consisting of five exercises targeting information processing speed and executive function. After treatment, participants will be classified as responders or non-responders based on changes in social responsiveness scores. During the study, assessments will measure changes in social communication and repetitive behaviors using the Social Responsiveness Scale, cognitive function through various CANTAB tests, and neurophysiological measures at the start and immediately after the intervention. Researchers will monitor behavioral changes and executive function outcomes to evaluate the impact of the combined treatment over the study period ending 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 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 taperingwashout, 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 different EEG-guided anesthetic treatment targets for patients who develop refractory status epilepticus after surviving a cardiac arrest. This randomized clinical trial focuses on adults who remain unconscious after return of spontaneous circulation and experience seizures that do not respond to standard anti-seizure medications. The study aims to compare burst suppression versus seizure suppression strategies using continuous EEG monitoring to control seizures in this critical condition. Participants are randomly assigned to receive intravenous anesthesia targeted either to burst suppression, which suppresses most of the EEG background activity, or to seizure suppression, which aims to stop seizures without extensive suppression of EEG background. Each treatment target is maintained for 24 hours and can be repeated once if seizures recur. After the treatment period, anesthetic medication is gradually reduced while monitoring continues. The study enrolls 30 subjects, with equal numbers in each treatment group. During the trial, participants are continuously monitored with EEG to guide anesthetic dosing and assess seizure control. Researchers track safety measures such as blood pressure, metabolic complications, and neurological outcomes using scales like the Cerebral Performance Category and modified Rankin Scale at discharge and up to 180 days. Seizure recurrence, treatment intensity, and neurological function over time are also recorded to evaluate the treatments. Participants are closely observed for potential risks related to anesthetic use, and the overall study duration spans two years.

Researchers are investigating how different cannabis strains, specifically those containing varying amounts of THC and CBD, affect recognition memory and brain activity in healthy, regular cannabis users aged 21 to 40. This study explores the distinct impacts of these cannabinoids on episodic memory, using commercially available cannabis flower strains, including a THC-dominant strain and a THC-CBD combination. It aims to understand how these compounds influence memory processes and brain waves measured through event-related potentials ERPs. Participants self-administer one of the two cannabis strains before completing a recognition memory task on two separate days once while intoxicated and once when not intoxicated. Blood samples are collected to measure THC and CBD levels, and genetic analyses are conducted to examine variations related to cannabinoid metabolism and cognitive function. Alongside memory testing, participants complete questionnaires about medical history, sleep quality, cognitive function, physical activity, psychological health, substance use, and drug effects. During the study, participants undergo EEG monitoring while performing memory tasks to record brain activity differences between intoxicated and non-intoxicated states. Researchers assess changes in memory accuracy and ERP amplitudes along with secondary outcomes such as mood, craving, paranoia, and circulating cannabinoid concentrations. The study spans approximately three weeks covering all sessions, with continuous monitoring of substance use to account for confounding factors.

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.