Work

Does Acquired Epileptogenesis in the Immature Brain Require Neuronal Death?

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Because epilepsy often occurs during development, understanding the mechanisms by which this process takes place (epileptogenesis) is important. In addition, the age-specificity of seizures and epilepsies of the neonatal, infancy, and childhood periods suggests that the processes and mechanisms that culminate in epilepsy might be age specific as well. Here we provide an updated review of recent and existing literature and discuss evidence that neuronal loss may occur during epileptogenesis in the developing brain, but is not required for the epileptogenic process. We speculate about the mechanisms for the resilience of neurons in immature limbic structures to epileptogenic insults, and propose that the type, duration and severity of these insults influence the phenomenology of the resulting spontaneous seizures.

Source: Epiliepsy currents/Epilepsy currents

DOI: 10.5698/1535-7511-11.1.21

Authors: Tallie Z Baram, Frances E Jensen, Amy Brooks-Kayal

Institutions: University of California, Irvine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University, University of Colorado Anschutz, University of Colorado Denver

Language: English

Topic: Epilepsy research and treatment

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: American Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke