According to information from a new study that is published in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience,removing the expression of a gene that carries the tau gene can prevent seizures from severe epilepsy that causes sudden deaths in patients.

This study was conducted by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The study was conducted in order to try to find a better understanding of a link between inherited Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy that may be able to help scientists develop better drugs for seizures. This is according to Dr. Jeffrey Noebels, professor of neurology at BCM, and director of the Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory.

The study was conducted by Jerrah Holth, a graduate student in molecular and human genetics at BCM, who had deleted the tau gene in mice. In doing so, she discovered that it also prevented the seizures that often cause sudden deaths.

“This led to the paradigm-shifting hypothesis that excessive neuronal network activity, rather than too little, may contribute to lower cognitive performance and dementia in some forms of Alzheimer’s disease. When this happens, the progression of memory loss may accelerate,” said Noebels.

Should this research help scientists create a new type of epileptic medication, older brands of anti-seizure medication that have proven dangerous may be a thing of the past. One of those dangerous medications is Topamax. Topamax has been linked to babies being born with birth defects including PPHN, oral clefts, spina bifida and neural tube defects when the mothers take the pills while pregnant.

If your baby has suffered from birth defects after being exposed to Topamax in-utero, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your child’s injury.