Focal brain cooling: revisiting a potential therapeutic option for intractable epilepsy

Seizure control is not achieved in approximately one-third of patients with epilepsy, even with the best available medications. Surgical treatment can be performed for these patients, but this is also not always successful. Under these circumstances, the potential for seizure suppression by focal brain cooling has gained attention. Brain cooling was first proposed about 50 years ago, and has come into the spotlight in recent years with advances in technology. Recent studies indicate that focal cooling of the brain to a cortical surface temperature of 20 to 25℃ terminates epileptic discharges without inducing irreversible neurophysiological dysfunction or neuronal damage. These results have promoted development of implantable focal cooling devices, but some aspects of the hardware in these devices require optimization. However, advances in precision machining have enabled optimization of an implantable focal cooling system, and this suggests that brain cooling therapy may become a reality in the near future.

epilepsy

focal brain cooling

seizure

device

neuromodulation