[Research] Light Therapy for Epilepsy

[epileric]

This is still very preliminary but I'd keep an eye on what (if anything) develops from this research.

Previous studies have successfully used optogenetic stimulation to stop seizures in animals bred to have different types of seizures. Krook-Magnuson and her colleagues aimed to explore which targeted brain regions may be most effective at stopping seizures in mice.

In this study, the researchers shone light on optogenetically modified neurons while the mice were having seizures. Specifically, the scientists activated cells in the cerebellum, an area at the lower rear of the brain that is involved in controlling body movement. The researchers discovered that the animals' seizures stopped in response to the light therapy.

If activating these cerebellum neurons stopped seizures, the researchers wondered, could suppressing these brain cells actually make seizures worse?

http://www.livescience.com/48817-light-therapy-stops-seizures.html

Even if it doesn't end up helping people with epilepsy, it looks very likely to help epileptic mice.

 

[SlimBlue]

As Mr Spock would say, "Fascinating"

 

[Nakamova]

Even if it doesn't end up helping people with epilepsy, it looks very likely to help epileptic mice.

I'm glad someone is trying to help the poor critters. It's really hard to steal a piece of cheese from a mousetrap while you are seizing.

 

[masterjen]

I'm glad someone is trying to help the poor critters. It's really hard to steal a piece of cheese from a mousetrap while you are seizing.

Thank you for my morning laugh! :roflmao:

 

[masterjen]

This is still very preliminary but I'd keep an eye on what (if anything) develops from this research.

http://www.livescience.com/48817-light-therapy-stops-seizures.html

Even if it doesn't end up helping people with epilepsy, it looks very likely to help epileptic mice.

Extremely interesting! It would be great if it were feasible to have all epilepsy patients - especially those with secondarily generalized seizures - have a fMRI during a seizure in order to watch how the electrical discharge spreads from the focal point of the partial seizure to become a generalized seizure . . . ex. does the spread of activity go to the cerebellum first (the center of movement control), and if so can someone with secondarily generalized seizures use the light (sort of in the same manner one would use a VNS, perhaps) at the time of the partial seizure to prevent the spread of the seizure??

 

[Hatly1981]

That's really fantastic..