Potential Block for Epilepsy: Researchers find new drug target
By Carrie Lock
Most epilepsy treatments start after the disease has taken hold. A person might take anticonvulsant drugs to stop seizures or have surgery to remove a damaged portion of the brain. Now, using genetically engineered mice, scientists have identified a new target in the brain for potential drugs that could prevent epilepsy in the first place.
Epilepsy disturbs the signals that flow between nerve cells. During a seizure, intense, abnormally synchronized electrical impulses disrupt normal brain function. The condition can stem from a birth defect, stroke, or a head injury, but scientists don’t know its underlying mechanism.