Recommendations for Treating Epilepsy in the Clinical Space: Christopher Elder, MD

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

“The diagnostic delay is a big issue that we need to be better with, certainly with our neurologists and other nonneurologists. In particular, those in the emergency room who get busy—sometimes it's hard to delineate, especially when it can be very a challenge to get a history on the patient. I think that we can do better, and I am hopeful with more attention on it, we can do better.”

Treatments for epilepsy have been effective but have been also limited over time, with many failing to control seizures in individuals with the seizure disorder. These difficulties with care and the stigma attached to the condition are challenges that drive the lack of exploration around it in research associated with brain surgery options and identifying the candidates who would most benefit from it.

Stimulation devices, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS), are additional FDA-approved options for treatment in individuals with epilepsy. These devices are examples of the treatments available that may help alleviate the difficulties in difficult-to-control seizures while providing a new treatment for clinicians to offer, in particularly for patients with refractory epilepsy.

In a recent conversation with NeurologyLive®, Christopher Elder, MD, clinical assistant professor, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Langone Health, discussed recommendations for the future of clinical care in treating epilepsy such as the prescribing of antiseizure medications and using devices like DBS and RNS for seizure disorders. He also spoke about the potential progress of treatments provided by neurologists and nonneurologists besides surgery, that have a less invasive approach.