Epilepsy: Triangular relationship in the brain

(University of Bonn) When an epileptic seizure occurs in the brain, the nerve cells lose their usual pattern and fire in a very fast rhythm. The cause is a complex interplay of various factors. Scientists at the University of Bonn have now discovered the important role of one of the participants: α2δ4 (alpha2delta4). It is a puzzle piece that plays a decisive role in the development of epilepsies and is a possible starting point for therapies.