Fly method is epilepsy’s ray of light

19 Jul 2016

Revolutionary new approach shows epilepsy could be preventable

A revolutionary new approach developed by University scientists has for the first time shown that epilepsy could be preventable.

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures. It is estimated to affect more than 500,000 people, around one in every 100 people, in the UK.

Professor Richard Baines and Dr Carlo Giachello, at the Faculty of Life Sciences, used a genetically-altered fruit fly to show that when nervous system activity is suppressed by shining yellow light through its embryo, it will not go on to develop symptoms of the disease when it gets older.

Though the procedure has only been used on flies, the team believe the Medical Research Council funded research for the first time proves that the development of Epilepsy can be stopped in its tracks if treated early enough.

Professor Baines said: “We’re excited by this discovery which we believe is proof of principle and a milestone in the way we understand epilepsy – though clearly more research is needed in mammals.

“But if these findings are taken to their logical conclusion, then we might envisage the possibility of being able to treat individuals at an early enough stage so they do not go on to develop the symptoms of epilepsy.

“After all, amazing though it might seem, the underlying biology of the central nervous system is the same in humans as it is in flies.”

You can watch a film explaining the work further: