Developmental Epilepsy: From Clinical Medicine To Neurobiological Mechanisms

'It is a small treasure chest of information presented in a compact textbook format. The unique contribution of this volume is the authors' ability to seamlessly bridge our current understanding of the basic science and genetics of this group of disorders to the clinical aspects of each epilepsy ... In short, those who practice in the field of epilepsy will find this text an easily accessible mini encyclopedia of reviews of our current understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the various childhood epilepsies. Readers will appreciate the digestible length and level of detail of each chapter and enjoy grabbing this book off the shelf.' Journal of Paediatric Epilepsy This is a collection of chapters from renowned authors focused on the contemporary issues in developmental epilepsy, from both clinical and basic science perspectives. Developmental epilepsy (or epilepsy syndromes), while receiving much more attention than 20 years ago, is still not well understood. This lag in research is reflected in the challenges of treating developmental epilepsy. The book discusses these challenges in the clinic and brings them back to the laboratory bench (and in some cases back to the bedside). This book fills a gap in the literature on developing epilepsy by bridging current clinical knowledge with basic and translational research in the developing brain relevant for developmental epilepsy.The book is introduced by a chapter on brain development to provide a background for understanding when and how seizures and epilepsy can emerge. Recent clinical research indicates strong relationship between childhood epilepsy and developmental cognitive impairment. This connection can be studied in experimental animals and can uncover developmental mechanisms common to both conditions.…