Brian Alldredge

Biography

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Seizures are caused by abnormal activity of nerve cells, called neurons, in the brain. In the United States, about 2 million people have epilepsy and as many as 150,000 more develop the condition each year. About a third of them are children. Epilepsy has many possible causes, such as an imbalance of nerve-signaling chemicals, called neurotransmitters, or abnormal nerve connections that form after an injury such as head trauma or stroke. Other types of epilepsy run in families and have been tied to specific genes. Often, it may be difficult to understand why a specific person develops epilepsy, but this does not mean that effective treatment is impossible. The Epilepsy Center at UCSF Medical Center provides diagnostic and treatment services that have earned us a level four rating — the highest level available — from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. We specialize in providing comprehensive care for all types of epilepsy, including epilepsy that has not responded to treatment, called medically refractory epilepsy. The center's neurodiagnostic program uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) to provide images of the brain, as well as electrical studies such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record brain waves. We also use advanced imaging techniques such as magnetoencephalogram and magnetic source imaging (MEG/MSI) and brain SPECT scans to help pinpoint the source of the seizures in the brain.  

Research Interest

Treatments may include medication, traditional brain surgery, laser ablation, vagal nerve stimulation and responsive neurostimulation. Patients also have the opportunity to participate in studies, called clinical trials, to test the latest experimental treatments. Clinical trials make new drugs, therapies and surgical procedures available to patients before they're widely available to the general public.