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
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.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe 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.
