title: Balance and cognitive impairment in two epileptic patients before and after vagal nerve stimulation.
abstract: Balance and cognition were assessed in two patients with uncontrolled complex partial seizures. The patients were on anticonvulsant medications and were treated with left vagal stimulation. Balance and cognition were assessed before and after vagal stimulation, and the results were compared with age matched controls and older patients with Parkinson's disease. Severe impairments of function were found in the epileptic patients, and such negative effects of medication make vagal stimulation a potentially practical alternative treatment for uncontrolled epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hudoba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital