Epilepsy — imaging causes and effects
| Location: | Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London in conjunction with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London. |
|---|---|
| Amount: | £214,654 |
| Status: | Research completed |
| Start Date: | 1st September 2002 |
| Finish Date: | 31st December 2006 |
| Grantholder: | Professor J S Duncan DM, FRCP and Dr G J Barker PhD. |
| Research worker: | Dr R Samson |
Epilepsy is the most common serious disease of the brain, and carries risk of death, physical injury, and negative social, psychological and economic consequences for the affected individual and their family. Every day, about 80 people suddenly discover that they have epilepsy when they are struck by their first seizure — which is almost 30,000 people each year.
Recent developments in brain imaging have improved our understanding of the causes and consequences of epilepsy. This research team will evaluate two new methods to investigate the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They will also use new MRI methods to identify the effects of seizures on brain blood flow and the mobility of water in the brain. The research should help identify the source of epileptic activity, which may lead to potentially curative surgical treatment, and show if seizures damage the brain.
Professor John Duncan
