We are looking at brain networks involved in the clinical expression of absence epilepsy and in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy before and after treatment – using simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – to study changes which we hypothesis will explain the clinical evolution of the syndromes and their variable response to treatment.
This project is testing the effect that the treatment used in IGE has on brain networks and the correlate with treatment outcome. We hypostasised that the status of brain networks can be a marker for treatment outcome: in patients with epilepsy responding to treatment, the brain networks status is comparable with healthy control. Vice-versa, patients who are not responding to treatment show a more compromised status of brain networks.
Patients with Absence Epilepsy and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (ILAE) from the age of 6 undergo simultaneous EEG-fMRI, DTI and ASL before and 6 months after starting treatment.
Lead researcher:
More information:
http://www.slam.nhs.uk/training-and-education/phd-studentships/suejen-perani
