NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Neuroscientists at the University of Iowa have discovered a potential cause of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a rare but deadly complication of epilepsy, in a new study. SUDEP kills approximately 3,000 people in the United States each year, and the exact cause remains unknown.
However, recent evidence suggests that persistent cessation of breathing, or apnea, after a seizure may be a major contributing factor.
Researchers have found that stimulating a specific area of the brain’s amygdala can lead to prolonged loss of breathing even after the seizure ends. This is the first study to identify a brain region that can cause persistent apnea after a seizure, which is very similar to the apnea seen in cases of SUDEP.
The findings shed new light on the mechanisms underlying this potentially fatal complication.
Dr. Brian Dlouhy, senior author of the study, explains: “We believe that this is very similar to the apnea that occurs and is observed in cases of SUDEP described in the literature, suggesting that this focal area of the amygdala underlies persistent apnea that may lead to death.”
Understanding the underlying causes of SUDEP is critical to developing strategies to identify those at high risk and prevent these tragic deaths.
Vicky Whittemore, PhD, program director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which funded the study, emphasizes the importance of these new findings in advancing our understanding of SUDEP.
To study the brain mechanisms associated with difficulty breathing after seizures, the research team studied 20 patients preparing for epilepsy surgery.
To plan the surgery, intracranial electroencephalography (ICEG) electrodes were implanted into the brains of these patients. By combining intracranial recordings from these electrodes with functional MRI imaging of the brain, the researchers were able to map the effects of stimulation of different areas of the amygdala.
This made it possible to identify a specific lesion in the tonsil associated with persistent apnea.
This pioneering study provides valuable insight into the causes of SUDEP and paves the way for further research into prevention methods. By better understanding the brain mechanisms associated with impaired breathing after seizures, scientists can begin to develop strategies aimed at mitigating this life-threatening complication.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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