The researchers found a pattern of molecules in blood that are higher in epilepsy patients before a seizure happens. Credit: © RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

A study by a research team in Ireland has identified molecules in the blood that could facilitate the prediction of seizures before they happen.

The team involved scientists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and FutureNeuro, the SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

During the study, researchers found a pattern of molecules in blood that are higher in epilepsy patients before a seizure happens.

The molecules comprised fragments of transfer RNAs (tRNAs), which play a key role in building proteins within the cell.

When cells become stressed, tRNAs are cut into fragments and higher levels of these fragments in the blood are considered as an indicator of the build-up to a seizure event.

Upon testing blood samples from epilepsy patients, researchers observed an increase in the fragment levels of three tRNAs many hours before a seizure.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The blood samples were obtained from the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, and a similar specialist centre in Marburg, Germany.

Findings from the study have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). They are expected to facilitate the development of an early warning tool for epilepsy patients.

FutureNeuro investigator Dr Marion Hogg said: “People with epilepsy often report that one of the most difficult aspects of living with the disease is never knowing when a seizure will occur.

“The results of this study are very promising. We hope that our tRNA research will be a key first step toward developing an early warning system.”

FutureNeuro is planning to create a test prototype, similar to a blood sugar monitor, to potentially predict when a seizure might occur.

Medical Device Network Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Medical Device Network Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving medical devices advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now