Photo Courtesy of Mayo Clinic
A brighter outlook
People with complex forms of epilepsy are discovering new hope thanks to major advancements made at Mayo Clinic. “There’s been incredible progress over the last ten years,” says Dr. Kai Miller, a pediatric and adult neurosurgeon who specializes in brain tumors, epilepsy, and deep-brain stimulation. “Now, we’re able to help people who have been unsuccessful at controlling their epilepsy with antiseizure medication,” says Dr. Miller.
Innovations that improve lives
Mayo Clinic is at the forefront of innovation for treating epilepsy with newly developed, targeted solutions. Nerve stimulation is one such technique that’s helping people in ways never thought possible. “We target areas in the brain that cause epilepsy with separate wires and stimulate them in a coordinated way. This disrupts the epilepsy and shuts down the abnormal stimulation. This reduces side effects as much as possible,” says Dr. Miller.
Other recently developed treatment options include minimally invasive surgeries, and targeted laser interventions. Implanted devices that can detect a seizure and stimulate the brain to shut seizures down are also providing promising results. Many of these devices can interface with AI-enabled apps that can detect seizures, deliver electrical stimulation to the brain, and help guide patients through the seizure to reduce confusion.
Unparalleled expertise
Mayo Clinic’s nationally recognized Level 4 epilepsy center provides the highest level of diagnosis and treatment for people with epilepsy, caring for over 9,500 adults and children each year. “We have a team of experts who understand the circuitry of the brain, how it can be impaired by seizures, and how to intervene with that circuitry,” says Dr. Miller.
“We discuss the range of treatment options for each patient and reach a consensus. It’s not just one expert. It’s a whole team,” explains Dr. Miller. “When patients ask me what they should do, I always ask myself what I would suggest if this were my child or spouse. And that’s what I recommend,” says Dr. Miller.
Mayo Clinic also provides world-class care for children with epilepsy. “Our youngest patients get the full experience of the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center,” says Dr. Miller. “Our team of pediatric neurosurgeons and neurologists are passionate about helping children, and they do it in an environment designed to help kids feel as comfortable as possible,” says Dr. Miller.
Finding hope for complex cases
Experts at Mayo Clinic routinely see rare forms of epilepsy. “We have full-time neurologists and neurosurgeons who only specialize in epilepsy. We see a high volume of complex cases. If you’re a person who has tried a number of medications and hasn’t found a solution, we can help,” says Dr. Miller.
