Altered adult neurogenesis and gliogenesis in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Epilepsy often involves abnormal brain activity in the hippocampus. In humans with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), prolonged epilepsy reduces the creation of new neurons while immature astroglial cells remain constant. These newly formed neurons are often inactive and absent during epileptic activity. In contrast, immature astroglial cells are consistently present and linked to epileptic activity. This research suggests that targeting immature astroglial cells may be a way to control excessive brain activity in people with epilepsy.