Patent ID: 10596376

Abstract:
Deep brain stimulation of the ventral pallidum (VP-DBS) prevents or potently attenuates epileptiform activity and behavioral seizures. VP-DBS prior to pilocarpine prevented behavioral partial and generalized forebrain seizures and generalized brainstem seizures in most animals. VP-DBS after brainstem seizures emerged prevented or reduced the appearance of subsequent behavioral and electrographic brainstem seizures. Even if VP-DBS was turned on after partial forebrain seizures started, this timed approach could still reduce partial forebrain seizures but also prevented secondarily generalized forebrain seizures. Epileptiform activity in brainstem areas, especially in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) which controls cardiovascular function, was prevented by VP-DBS. Altogether, VP-DBS is a therapeutic approach for individuals with intractable epilepsy with partial and/or generalized seizures and may potentially prevent or diminish sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) by preserving activity of brain stem neurons involved in cardio-respiratory function.