Introduction: Both the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) and Low Glycemic Index Treatment(LGIT) are considered less restrictive than the ketogenic diet and effective in children with drug-resistant epilepsy(DRE). Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared these two diets.
Methods: All RCTs directly comparing MAD and LGIT for DRE were included in the review. We pooled estimates for percentage seizure frequency reduction, the number of participants with seizure freedom, ≥90 % and ≥50 % reduction in seizure frequency, as well as changes in cognition, behavior, and adverse effects in both groups.
Results: Three RCTs with 265 participants were included. The pooled estimates for the number of children achieving seizure freedom, ≥50 %, and ≥90 % reduction in seizure frequency post-intervention, as well as weekly percentage seizure frequency reduction, were comparable between the MAD and LGIT groups(RR: 1.24 [95 % CI: 0.71-2.16]; I²=0 %, p = 0.45, RR: 0.86 [95 % CI: 0.57-1.29]; I²=62 %, p = 0.45, RR: 1.35 [95 % CI: 0.82-2.21]; I²=5 %, p = 0.24, and MD:6.5 [95 % CI:13.8 to 0.6]; I²=45 %, p = 0.07). The number of children showing improvement in cognition and changes in behavioral comorbidities were also comparable between the groups(p = 0.60 and 0.21). However, the MAD group had a higher incidence of adverse effects(RR: 1.37 [95 % CI: 1.12-1.68]; I²=42 %, p = 0.002), though the number of participants experiencing serious adverse effects was similar in both groups(RR: 1.68 [95 % CI: 0.71-3.99]; I²=0 %, p = 0.24). Adherence rates to the allocated intervention were numerically higher in the LGIT group(p = 0.73).
Conclusion: Both MAD and LGIT are comparable in efficacy, but LGIT is associated with fewer adverse effects.
MRI has considerably increased our pathophysiological knowledge of age-related brain abnormalities. Brain abnormalities regularly seen on MRI of older adults are atrophy, and changes related to small vessel disease (SVD). SVD-related changes include white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, microbleeds, microinfarcts and perivascular spaces. While atrophy, WMH and lacunes are recognized as important contributors to cognitive decline and dementia, relationships are less clear for microbleeds, microinfarcts and perivascular spaces. Vascular risk factors are considered critical in the development of these changes and being potentially modifiable have become increasingly interesting to researchers and clinicians alike. Managing vascular risk early, particularly hypertension, is a key factor in slowing down the evolution of age-related brain abnormalities and decelerate their detrimental cognitive consequences. Cognition and visible brain abnormalities have a complex relationship, which reaches far beyond what we can understand using standard MRI. Remote effects of lesions and associated- as well as independent network changes likely explain much of the different cognitive trajectories observed with aging. Because of the versatility of MRI in the diagnostic of various diseases, including epilepsy, incident signs of brain aging will be encountered ever more frequently on standard MRI of older adults. To facilitate understanding and ultimately reporting these changes to patients, this review will give a brief overview of MRI findings encountered on MRI of older people. We will discuss their pathology, risk factors, and relationships with cognition. Special emphasis will be given to more recent developments, including remote effects of lesions, and effects on the structural brain network. Relationships between MRI findings in older people and epilepsy will be discussed as well.
Drug discovery for the treatment of epilepsy is entering a new era especially with the advancement of genetic therapies as disease modifying, antiepileptogenic therapies. Even new ideas about re-purposed medication with purposed epileptogenic properties have been suggested. The possibilities are enormous, and it is encouraging that so many ideas are flourishing. The focus of this review is to discuss where to concentrate efforts to improve the lives of people with epilepsy (PWE) with medical treatment, especially the elderly who have many challenges besides just seizures. Thus, the arrow needs to be not only focused on DRE patients, but to try to redirect the arrow to prevent the development of seizures before onset as well as preventing refractoriness at the very beginning herald by the first seizures.