Epilepsy is one of the most common and widely recognized medical conditions - some of the earliest historical mentions of epilepsy can be traced back all the way to 4000 years ago. Today more than 50 million people have epilepsy, which disproportionately affects low income countries where medical treatments are less accessible. International Epilepsy Day, celebrated every year on the second Monday of February, aims to raise awareness of how it is to coexist with this condition.

Epilepsy seizures are mainly caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is a very complex puzzle of brain dynamics and understanding it is among the most difficult goals of neuroscience. The Human Brain Project is committed to the study of epilepsy and the development of therapeutic solutions: the EPINOV clinical trial, currently undergoing at the La Timone Hospital in Marseille, France, aims to improve the lives of patients through personalized brain modelling. About one third of epilepsy patients develop resistance to drugs, and removing the seizure-inducing zone of the brain through surgery remains the only option. By creating a personalized model of the patient’s brain, called “digital twin”, clinicians can detect which zone to remove with increased precision. A recent HBP study has shown how this technique provides an invaluable tool for doctors and may lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the disease. 

Simon Privett, a UK-based lead of epilepsy patient groups, has followed the development of the HBP trial and shares the optimism for the use of personalized brain modelling in medicine. “Computational neuroscience gives us interdisciplinary approaches to develop novel diagnostic tools and treatment options not just for epilepsy, but potentially for learning disabilities and other brain conditions. The possibility of faster, more reliable diagnosis, more effective treatments, and improved prognosis means that there are brighter futures in sight for people currently not benefitting from the existing treatment pathway”. Privett also advocates for greater awareness and inclusion of epilepsy people in clinical trials and government policy. 

The HBP has recently released a podcast with Viktor Jirsa, Director of the Institut de Neuroscience des Systèmes at Aix Marseille University, about digital twins and personalized brain modelling and how they can improve the lives of epilepsy patients. You can listen to it here.