Researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden have made an interesting discovery about stem cells in the brain which may help them better understand epilepsy.  They examined epileptic brain tissue and found neural stem cells in locations where they don’t normally exist.  The findings may help them develop a treatment to reduce the severity of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is brain disorder where nerve cell activity is disturbed, causing seizures.  It is estimated that more than 50 million people have epilepsy worldwide.

Earlier studies have indicated the possibility that neural cells are located in unusual locations in the brains of epilepsy patients.  This study confirms that theory and provides some useful information about the molecular characteristics of these out-of-place neural stem cells.

Neural stem cell have the ability to form new neurones in the brain.  They normally reside in the hippocampus — the section of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory.  They are also found in the subventricular zone, an important section of the brain in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS).

The Swedish researchers examined the brains of 14 people with epilepsy.  They found that 8 of these patients had neural stem cells outside of the hippocampus and subventricular zone.  The stem cells were located in epileptic brain tissue that was removed during surgery.

This type of surgery is performed about 50 times per year in Sweden.  It is a complex surgery that involves identifying the precise part of the brain that is triggering seizures, then removing it.  The brain tissue is usually malformed or injured and has stopped responding to control signals in the brain.  This results in seizures.

Dr. Milos Pekny said of the findings: ”This may point to a greater plasticity in the epileptic tissue, which to some extent can be compared to the brain tissue of a new born”. The findings will help scientists gain a better understanding of epilepsy.

Source: New findings about stem cells in the brain of patients with epilepsy

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