Epilepsy is a severe neurological disorder that affects approximately 300,000 Canadians. Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common form of epilepsy in adults and is characterized by seizures that cause abnormal sensations, impaired consciousness, and loss of motor control. Anti-seizure medications are the main treatment strategy for patients with epilepsy, but 1 in every 3 patients experience drug-resistant epilepsy. Therefore, a major goal of our research program is to identify new and effective treatment strategies for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Preliminary data from our laboratory has found that a brain region known as the hypothalamus influences seizure frequency in mouse models of epilepsy. In the present study, we plan to test whether modifying the activity of the hypothalamus with brain stimulation procedures can reduce seizures in mice and human patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Our findings could lead to the discovery of new therapies for people living with drug-resistant epilepsy.
