Epilepsy is strongly linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain and many anticonvulsant drugs restore the normal contribution of neurotransmitters (chemicals) to allow the brain to function. However, the role of neurotransmitters in epilepsy is poorly understood. To address this problem, Dr. Nguyen and his collaborator Dr. Fouquet will use biophotonics technology to measure levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brains of experimental animals undergoing seizures to better understand the involvement of neurotransmitters in epilepsy and to establish specific neurotransmitters as biomarkers that could predict the onset of seizures. The results of this research will be important in the design of novel compounds to cure epilepsies that currently resist treatment with available anticonvulsant medications.
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