AES 2023 Presidential Symposium | Epilepsy Therapies in 2023 and Beyond

Diverse novel therapies developed in the laboratory are now on the horizon for people with epilepsy. Epilepsy therapies have a rich history evolving from diets and drugs to gene-based approaches and implantable devices. Genetic
approaches in rare epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet Syndrome, have progressed at a rapid pace to advance innovative therapies that target DNA and RNA regulation. Metabolic- and epigenetics-based therapeutic approaches are evolving for epilepsy and its comorbidities. Responsive neurostimulation and other neuromodulation modalities for drug-resistant epilepsy are now understood to have effects that depend on brain networks. Cell-based therapies developed in animal models are being tested in the clinic.
The goal of this symposium is highlighting the evolution of future cutting-edge therapeutic approaches for the epilepsies. These therapeutic approaches offer hope but face challenges in their journey to patients. The critical need for these therapies, as well as challenges and successes in their development, translation, clinical testing, and accessibility by patients, are the topics of this symposium. A view from the clinic emphasizes the need for better therapies to control the many facets of the syndromes patients and their families face. These cutting-edge approaches also pave the way for a future that harnesses the therapeutic capabilities of the gut microbiome and artificial intelligence, while raising challenges such as their equitable access by all patient populations.