The Department of Neurology Adult Epilepsy Program at Indiana University School of Medicine is the only program in Indiana providing comprehensive management, diagnostic investigations to localize epileptogenic foci (a prerequisite for surgical treatment) and social, psychiatric and psychological evaluation of patients with epilepsy who have medically intractable seizures or complex diagnostic problems. The epilepsy program is certified as a Level 4 comprehensive epilepsy program by the National Association Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), which is the highest level given to institutions.
It is recognized as a referral center for the most complex patients requiring invasive monitoring with Stereo EEG and Functional Brain Mapping — state of the art evaluation and treatment including resection — laser ablation, neuromodulation with responsive neurostimulation, deep brain stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation as well as epilepsy clinical trials. The center also offers magnetoencephalography (MEG), a noninvasive diagnostic test that measures brain activity and pinpoints the location of epileptiform activity through magnetic fields, under the leadership of MEG medical director Alison Kostandy, MD, and scientific director Meichen Yu, PhD. Both adult and pediatric patients can be evaluated with these advanced techniques.
Department of Neurology researchers have been national leaders in evaluating new treatment methodologies for epilepsy, notably studies that demonstrated the safety and long-term effectiveness of deep-brain stimulation via implanted devices have provided substantial relief to patients resistant to drug and other surgical approaches.
