Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic condition that is characterized by epileptic seizures caused by disturbing electric impulses in the brain. The usual pattern for brain activity is disrupted, which causes weird feelings and behaviour, occasional cramps, muscle contractions and unconsciousness.
It is not uncommon for people with epilepsy, especially children, to develop behavioural and emotional problems in connection with seizures. It is a highly debilitating disease as the seizures can occur without warning, and the symptoms of a disease can be very frightening for the patient and the relatives. For many people with epilepsy, the risk of seizures reduces their freedom, independence and hobbies.
Epilepsy can be a threatening condition. Some epileptics are at special risk of unusually prolonged seizures, or sudden, inexplicable deaths. Currently, it is not possible to cure the condition, but epilepsy is treated with medicine that attempts to prevent seizures, as well as through an operation to try to remove an underlying cause if this is deemed necessary.
New research
Early in the research process, they investigated which chemical compounds could prevent a specific inflammatory-molecule in neurons. Here, they noticed a specific connection that had an effect on epilepsy. The compound – called ‘LAU0901’ – was tested on mice with epilepsy where it proved to be able to prevent seizures, and their harmful effects on the nervous cells’ ‘dendrites’, which are important to the communication of cells in the nerves.
In epileptics, these structures are damaged and form new connections so that a new circulation, which is easily activated, can be seen in the brain, making the epileptics vulnerable to seizures. For up to 100 days after the treatment, researchers could observe that the dendrites on the nervous cells were preserved, which suggested that the development of epilepsy was stopped.
LAU can block a neuro-inflammatory signaling receptor, resulting in the protection of the dendrites, thus reducing the sensitivity of the receptors and thereby the occurrence of seizures.
The chemical compound is to undergo further tests in clinical trials to examine its effect within humans. Most of the current medicaments against epilepsy focus on the symptoms and not the disease itself. By understanding the possible therapeutic use of the chemical compounds that disrupt the development of epilepsy, we may be able to provide treatment for people with a risk of developing epilepsy.
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