Brain patterns may even suggest a particular medication. Other treatments include getting enough rest, avoiding stress, staying healthy and avoiding things that trigger seizures, such as fatigue and infectious diseases. Vagal nerve stimulation is another form of therapy available where multiple areas of the brain produce seizures and surgery is not possible in patients who have not responded to antiepileptec medications. Only rarely is surgery done, usually in patients whose seizures do not respond to medication and whose seizures are triggered in one area of the brain. Research Epilepsy often begins in childhood and can cause shortened life span, the risk of intellectual impairment and a reduced quality of life, so research is extremely important.
Current research includes studies of new medications, genetic factors and seizure behavior.
In addition, researchers are looking at devices to stimulate nerves controlling brain activity. They also are studying the impact of epilepsy on attention, memory, learning and behavior in children, the relationship between head injuries and seizures and the relationship between brain damage and the length, outcome and treatment of epilepsy. The center has its own Epilepsy Clinic for patients and research students, and an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for the medical management of epilepsy. The multi-disciplinary staff includes epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, nursing specialists, social workers, pharmacologists and EEG technologists. In the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, patients can be monitored 24 hours a day for proper diagnosis and treatment.