How does kainic acid produce brain lesions?

Kainic acid is a direct agonist of the glutamic kainate receptors and large doses of concentrated solutions produce immediate neuronal death by overstimulating neurons to death. Such damage and death of neurons is referred to as an excitotoxic lesion.

Can you live a normal life with epilepsy?

Most people with epilepsy live a full life. However, the risk of early death is higher for some. We know that the best possible seizure control and living safely can reduce the risk of epilepsy-related death.

What causes temporal lobe epilepsy?

Temporal lobe epilepsy may be caused by an injury to the brain, such as a traumatic injury or infection. There are many other causes such as brain tumors, vascular malformations, and developmental abnormalities.

What type of seizure is status epilepticus?

A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death.

What do kainate receptors do?

Kainate Receptor Postsynaptic kainate receptors appear to play their greatest role in synaptic transmission onto glutamate neurons mainly during repetitive activity. Kainate receptors are also present on GABA neurons, where their activation can both stimulate and depress inhibitory transmission.

Which famous person has epilepsy?

Vincent van Gogh suffered from seizures doctors believed were cause by temporal lobe epilepsy. Composer George Gershwin was diagnosed with epilepsy. Actress Margaux Hemingway had from epilepsy from the age of seven. Korn front man Jonathan Davis believes his epilepsy was induced by years of drug use.

Is there a cure for epilepsy 2020?

But unlike with other brain-related conditions, about two dozen medications can successfully treat many cases of epilepsy. Although there is no cure, these anti-seizure drugs turn the disease into a chronic, but well-managed condition for many to the point where it barely interferes with life.

What medication is used for temporal lobe epilepsy?

Tiagabine (Gabitril) Topiramate (Topamax) Valproic acid (Depakene) Vigabatrin (Sabril)

What age does temporal lobe epilepsy start?

Medial temporal lobe epilepsy usually begins around age 10 or 20, but it can start at any age. Usually a person has had a seizure with fever or an injury to the brain in their early years.