Epilepsy

Research

Mayo Clinic has a long-standing commitment to research related to improved treatment for patients with epilepsy. Physicians at all Mayo Clinic locations conduct research. Mayo researchers are responsible for significant developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques now used in the screening of patients for epilepsy surgery.

Innovations in single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scanning and several surgical outcome studies published by specialists on the epilepsy and neurosurgery teams at Mayo Clinic have led to improvements in presurgical evaluation. Mayo's EEG laboratory also has a reputation for innovation in the diagnosis of epilepsy and localization of seizures.

Clinical research in the evaluation of electrical brain stimulation for epilepsy is ongoing at Mayo Clinic. Laboratory research examining the underlying mechanisms of seizures and research in the use of vagus nerve stimulation and the ketogenic diet is also performed at Mayo.

Other areas of research include:

• Cortical stimulation mapping and seizure localization
• Development of devices to help predict seizures
• Care and management of patients with intractable (difficult to manage) epilepsy
• Seizures in older adults
• Seizures in the Hispanic population
• Social stigma attached to epilepsy
• Anti-epileptic, medication-related bone demineralization and seizure-related vertebral fractures
• Seizure-related injuries
• Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP)

Mayo Clinic also participates in several clinical trials related to epilepsy, including a study of the genetic basis of some forms of epilepsy, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Mayo Publications

See a list of publications by Mayo doctors on Epilepsy on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.