Learn About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common disorder,  affecting one in every hundred children. Along with seizures, epilepsy often creates difficulty with learning, attention and behavior. These cognitive problems diminish quality of life -  as much or more so than the seizures. The Baumer Lab  is working to understand how epilepsy causes these cognitive problems and exploring novel neurostimulation therapies to address them.

Dr. Fiona Baumer’s current research focuses on the two most common forms of pediatric epilepsy:

1.Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (also called Childhood or Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (CECTS/BECTS))
2.Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE)

Benign Rolandic Epilepsy is the most common form of focal epilepsy and is also known as BECTs, benign epilepsy with centreo-temporal spikes. It is referred to as benign because most children outgrow the condition by puberty at 16 years old.

This form of epilepsy is characterized by centro-temporal spikes and seizures involving a part of the brain called the rolandic area. These seizures typically occur between the ages of 3 and 12 years old and during the night.

Seizures involve (not all-inclusive):

• twitching and stiffness of the face
• tingling feeling on one side of the mouth 
• drooling and trouble swallowing 
• jerking and twitching occuring usually in one leg or one side of the body
• loss of bladder control

BECTs is thought to be a genetic disorder because most individuals affected have a family history of epilepsy. A specific gene has not been identified that relates specifically to BECTS.

Treatment for BECTs depends on the symptoms and severity of the affected individual. Children with frequent or daytime seizures, cognitive impairment or a learning disorder are more likely to be recommended anti-seizure medication. However, because BECTs often resolves on its own before adulthood, many children with BECTs do not take medication.

About 5-8% of children with epilepsy have Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE). This condition is associated with absence seizures (also known as “petit mal seizures''), in which children suddenly stop what they are doing and stare. 

Children are typically not aware of their surroundings during these brief seizures, which can happen hundreds of times per day. Even after seizures are treated, children with absence epilepsy often have significant difficulties with attention and learning. 

Seizures involve (not all-inclusive):

• staring spells
• lack of awareness and unresponsiveness 
• child's eyes may roll up briefly or the eyes may blink
•  repetitive movements like mouth chewing

CAE is thought to be a genetic disorder as most individuals who have CAE have a family history of epilepsy. However, most children with CAE do not have abnormal results on genetic testing for specific epilepsy genes. 

There are a variety of medications used to treat CAE and in most cases, these effectively control the outburst of seizures. If absence seizures continue after trying one seizure medication, combining several medications may help. Some children also benefit from a ketogenic diet if their seizures are not controlled by anti-seizure medication.

• Cortical Excitability, Synaptic Plasticity, and Cognition in Benign Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spikes: A Pilot TMS-EMG-EEG Study. Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society Baumer, F. M., Pfeifer, K., Fogarty, A., Pena-Solorzano, D., Rolle, C. E., Wallace, J. L., Rotenberg, A., Fisher, R. S.2020; 37 (2): 170–80
• Language Dysfunction in Pediatric Epilepsy. The Journal of pediatrics Baumer, F. M., Cardon, A. L., Porter, B. E.2018; 194: 13–21
• Emerging Applications of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation. Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society Baumer, F. M., Rotenberg, A.2020; 37 (2): 89
• Clinical and electrographic features of sunflower syndrome. Epilepsy research Baumer, F. M., Porter, B. E.2018; 142: 58–63
• For more publications, click here.