Project Overview

Epilepsy is a common brain disorder that causes repeated seizures and can significantly affect a person’s daily life. One-third of people with epilepsy have drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), meaning their seizures do not respond to medications to control seizures. For those who cannot have surgery, treatments like Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) provide another option. VNS uses electrical signals to help control seizures.

Unfortunately, people living with epilepsy are three times more likely to die early, including from a condition called sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The risk of SUDEP is higher for those who have frequent seizures. While we do not yet know exactly what causes SUDEP, research suggests that problems with the body’s network of nerves that handles unconscious tasks like breathing and heartbeat (called autonomic functions) could be involved. VNS therapy sends mild electrical pulses to a nerve in the neck, which connects to the brain. Studies show VNS can lower SUDEP risk by 25%, but scientists don’t yet know why. Some think it is because VNS helps reduce seizures, while others believe it may help improve the body’s autonomic system. However, past studies have been small, and the results have been inconsistent, leaving many questions unanswered.

This study will look at how VNS affects the body’s autonomic system and whether it can help prevent SUDEP. We will study 30 adults with DRE who receive VNS and compare them to 30 controls, untreated with VNS. Participants will undergo assessments before and after VNS, including tests of body functions, a questionnaire assessing their autonomic system function, high-resolution brain scans to analyze brain connections, and an examination of medical details, including genetic testing. By learning more about how VNS works, this research could improve treatments for people with epilepsy, reduce the risk of SUDEP, and lead to better health outcomes.

Principal Investigator

Ana Suller-Marti , Western University