Overcoming Resistance in Epilepsy: From Mechanisms to New Therapies

Epilepsy remains one of the most common neurological disorders, yet approximately 30% of patients have drug-resistant (refractory) epilepsy, failing to achieve seizure control with current antiseizure medications (ASMs). This persistence underscores the critical need to shift focus from symptomatic seizure suppression to disease-modifying treatments and novel molecular targets.This Research Topic aims to gather the latest advances in the pharmacology of drug-resistant epilepsy. We are particularly interested in research that extends beyond traditional ion-channel modulation to explore pathways implicated in epileptogenesis, including mTOR, neuroinflammation, and genetic mutations, to identify new therapeutic windows for patients with refractory conditions.We welcome, among others, Original Research and Review articles including, but not limited to:- Novel Therapeutic Targets: Investigating the role of the mTOR pathway, kinase inhibitors, and other non-traditional targets in treating refractory epilepsy and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).- Disease Modification: Pharmacological strategies focused on anti-epileptogenesis (preventing the development of epilepsy) rather than solely on seizure suppression.- Status Epilepticus: New emergency treatments for super-refractory status epilepticus.- Precision Medicine: Genetically guided therapies and the impact of genetic mutations on ASM response. This includes gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR-based strategies, and cell-based interventions.- Neuroinflammation: The role of inflammatory pathways in drug resistance and potential anti-inflammatory treatments. This includes astrocyte and microglial dysfunction, mitochondrial impairment, and metabolic therapies.- Next-Generation ASMs: Preclinical and clinical evaluation of new compounds designed for drug-resistant phenotypes. Topic editors: CIRIA HERNANDEZ, Alexandra Astner-Rohracher Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78546/overcoming-resistance-in-epilepsy-from-mechanisms-to-new-therapies