Scientists Find Way to Reduce Epilepsy Seizures in Mice

Scientists just found a promising new way to treat the world's most common form of epilepsy by targeting zombie-like cells in the brain.

Researchers at Georgetown University discovered that temporal lobe epilepsy, which affects 50 million people worldwide, may be driven by damaged cells that refuse to die. These "senescent" cells stop functioning normally but stick around, causing problems for surrounding healthy tissue.

The team noticed something interesting when examining brain tissue from epilepsy patients. Even though the epilepsy group was younger than a comparison group, they had five times as many zombie cells in their brains.

To test if these cells were causing seizures, researchers tried removing them from mice with epilepsy. They used a combination of a leukemia drug called dasatinib and quercetin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound found in plants.

The results were remarkable. The treatment normalized memory function in the mice and significantly reduced their seizures. Even better, it prevented some mice from developing seizures at all.

"This is a disease-modifying approach," said study co-author Patrick Forcelli, a pharmacologist at Georgetown University. Current epilepsy medications only manage symptoms without addressing root causes, and patients who don't respond well often need brain surgery or nerve stimulation devices.

The scientists discovered the zombie cells were mostly microglia, part of the brain's immune system. When they tried eliminating all microglia instead of just the senescent ones, it didn't help. This suggests any future treatment would need to carefully target only the damaged cells while preserving healthy ones.

Why This Inspires

This research offers real hope for millions living with temporal lobe epilepsy. For the first time, scientists may have identified a way to treat the condition's underlying causes rather than just masking symptoms. The drug combination has already been approved for other uses, which could speed up the path to human trials.

The findings also open doors for treating other brain conditions linked to cellular aging. Researcher James Kirkland from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center notes that targeting senescent cells could have applications across many different neurological disorders.

Next, Forcelli's team will work to determine the best timing for treatment, whether immediately after head trauma or weeks later. Each answer brings us closer to a world where epilepsy doesn't control people's lives.