Researchers based in the USA have developed a compound that may prevent the development of epilepsy. After being tested on mice, the compound could soon be brought to human trials.
The protective effect of this new compound was observed up to 100 days post-treatment.
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Scientists from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center have developed a compound that blocks the hyper-excitability of neurons in epileptic mice. Until now, epilepsy drugs have targeted symptoms such as seizures, without halting the deterioration of dendritic spines, structures that allow brain cells to communicate. “In epilepsy, these structures are damaged and rewire incorrectly, creating brain circuits that are hyper-connected and prone to seizures, an important example of pathological plasticity,” the researchers explain.
The protective effect of this new compound — which can notably prevent seizures — was observed up to 100 days post-treatment. This suggests that the development of epilepsy may have been halted.
The compound was tested on mice and could soon be trialed on human patients.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition which sees the normal pattern of brain activity become disturbed. It has a range of symptoms, including seizures, which can prevent sufferers from living normal lives.
It can also cause strange sensations and behavior, such as olfactory or auditory hallucinations, loss of consciousness, muscle spasms, staring spells and more.
The findings were published in the journal Nature.
The study is available here: http://www.nature.com/articles/srep30298