Neurogenesis and epilepsy

Abstract

Persistent neural stem cells generate dentate granule cells (DGCs) throughout life. Evidence suggests that aberrant neurogenesis contributes to epileptic structural abnormalities, but that normally integrating adult-born DGCs may restore inhibition. Current research focuses on how epileptogenic insults alter neurogenesis, and whether restoring normal neurogenesis will attenuate epilepsy or its comorbidities. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper's Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies, Fourth Edition (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado-Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at). © 2010 International League Against Epilepsy.