Only a very small percentage of neurons show changes after an epileptic seizure in mice, but these alterations can be permanent and trigger future seizures that can affect the whole brain and lead to impaired cognition, like memory and learning, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The researchers identified an experimental treatment that, if provided within the first 48 hours after the first seizure, can prevent these long-term changes. The findings, which were published recently in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest a promising target for developing treatments for epilepsy and preventing downstream effects of seizures.
Epilepsy is characterized by excessive activity of brain cells — neurons — which generate seizures. Research is increasingly showing that the development of epilepsy involves changes of…
