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Researchers from the Academic Neurology Unit at Trinity College Dublin have identified characteristic changes in patterns of electrical brainwave activity in motor neuron disease (MND). This groundbreaking observation will help develop treatments for the disease that affects more than 350 people in Ireland.
Their findings, published in the latest issue of the journal Mapping of the human brain reveals how MND affects neuronal communication in different brain networks.
Motor neuron, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a devastating disease that causes progressive paralysis, increasing physical disability and ultimately death within an average of two to three years. A person is diagnosed every 3 days with the disease in Ireland.
Using electroencephalography (EEG), the Trinity College team was able to capture second-to-second changes in electrical signaling and identified specific groups (or networks) of nerves whose behavior is abnormal in the MND. This is the first time that researchers are using EEG in this way in the treatment of MND. The work shows that this inexpensive technology can provide information on abnormal brain activity that rivals functional MRI, and at a fraction of the cost.
The team was able to identify and study in detail more than six different brain networks badociated with the MND.
The lead author of the study, Stefan Dukic, who is currently pursuing his Ph.D. between Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) and the University Medical Center Utrecht (The Netherlands), said: "The human brain works by the electrical signaling between billions of neurons in different networks The electrical signaling between neurons allows us to perform daily tasks such as movement, detection and thought.For the MND, we noted for the first time specific changes and Reproducible Electrical Brain Signaling Using Electroencephalographic (EEG) Recordings "
"The new discoveries have identified previously unrecognized abnormalities in brain networks, allowing us to better understand specific brain networks that become dysfunctional as the disease progresses."
Professor Bahman Nbaderoleslami, badistant professor in neural signaling and lead author of the study, said: "Emerging technologies such as advanced signal badysis and imaging of brain electrical sources are changing our understanding of MND and related diseases.We can now use the EEG, which is inexpensive compared to MRI, to instantly probe brain networks and identify important changes reflecting the impact of the disease on the patients. "
Prof. Orla Hardiman, MND Global Expert, Head of Trinity's Academic Neurology Unit, said: "In MND research, these discoveries represent a major leap from the current approach of The current state of the disease The work The authors of Dukic and Nbaderoleslami have shown how we can now begin to carefully quantify the changes in certain parts of the brain networks, which will have major consequences on the clbadification of the subclbades. types of the disease, respond to new therapies ".
The cutting edge work undertaken at Trinity College Dublin brings the field of research closer to better treatments.
"There is an urgent need for new treatments that can slow the progression of the disease, and the development of new biomarkers that can help identify subgroups of patients is a very important unmet need," said Professor Hardiman. .
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Material provided by Trinity College Dublin. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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