Recent Progress in Epilepsy Research

Epilepsy is a brain condition in which a person experiences repeated seizures. It is a common and non-communicable neurological disease that affects both males as well as females of all ages across the globe. It is characterized by recurrent and spontaneous seizures caused by the abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are of two types. Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain, whereas focal seizures affect a particular part of the brain. Both hereditary and environmental factors can cause epilepsy. The resistance of excitatory neurons to fire is reduced in epilepsy. This could be due to malfunctioning inhibitory neurons or alterations in the ion channel, which results in seizures. Another mechanism of epilepsy could be the up-regulation of excitatory circuits or the down-regulation of inhibitory circuits after an incidence of brain injury. Gene therapy is being investigated as a potential and promising treatment option for epilepsy. The book presents researches and studies on epilepsy. It will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.