Personalized epilepsy and autism treatments using EEG brain measurements
The BRAINinBALANCE project is a partnership between Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the technology company Epilog. Together, they aim to develop a new method using EEG brain-wave recordings to measure the balance between activating and calming signals in the brain, known as excitation and inhibition. This method will help clinicians select and monitor treatments for patients with epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, ensuring more personalized and effective care.
Currently, many patients with epilepsy and autism struggle to find effective treatments because each person’s brain is unique. Around 30% of epilepsy patients do not respond to medication, while autism affects 1 in every 100 people, often requiring lifelong care and medication. Today’s treatments are mostly trial-and-error, lacking precise methods to predict effectiveness and monitor progress. Improved, personalized methods could reduce healthcare costs, minimize side effects, and significantly enhance the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.
The BRAINinBALANCE team will refine their EEG-based method to precisely measure the brain’s excitation-inhibition balance. They will then validate this method using EEG recordings collected during medication treatments. Data from 120 children with autism undergoing treatment at the N=You Precision Center in Amsterdam and from 100 epilepsy patients monitored by Epilog will be analyzed. The innovative EEG method will be implemented within an easy-to-use software platform, allowing rapid clinical adoption.
By the end of the project, the deliverables will include a validated EEG biomarker toolbox, optimized measurement methods, and guidelines for clinical use. This will allow healthcare professionals to reliably predict treatment effectiveness and personalize