A TMS study on cortical excitability in epilepsy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation study to measure cortical excitability in people with epilepsy
IRAS ID
311372
Contact name
Fahmida Chowdhury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106 2022 11 119, Data Protection Registration Number
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, and affects around 50 million people worldwide. It is caused by increased excitability of the brain. Patients with epilepsy have recurrent seizures. Seizures have risks that commonly include injuries but also rarely can result in fatality due to effects of the seizures on breathing and heart rate (known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). Unfortunately about a third of patients have ongoing seizures despite taking the many anti-epileptic medications available and we do not currently understand why this is. In some of these patients, an operation to remove the part of the brain that is causing the seizures, can help to cure seizures. Another exciting possible new treatment under development is gene therapy.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is useful and safe tool that uses a magnet held over the head to stimulate nerves in the brain and the response can be measured using recording electrodes on the muscles of the hand or by measuring brainwaves on the scalp. It is ideal for studying brain activity in patients with epilepsy, as it can directly probe the workings of brain circuits and give us measures of brain excitability.
In this study we plan to use transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure brain activity in patients with epilepsy, before and after different treatments. This will help us understand how TMS measures can differ in different types of epilepsy which may help in future with diagnosis. We also envisage that will help us understand why some people may become seizure free with treatment whereas others might not, and in turn, in future help us to predict which patients will benefit most from either treatment. This will allow us to choose the best treatment for patients and improve their seizures and thereby their quality of life.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0025
Date of REC Opinion
2 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion