Understanding Brain "Storms" in Neurodegenerative Diseases

When we think of diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, we usually think of memory loss or shaky hands. However, recent research shows that these diseases also cause "electrical storms" in the brain.

The Brain’s "On Switch" (Hyperexcitability)

Inside the brain, nerve cells talk to each other using electricity. In a healthy brain, these signals are carefully balanced. However, researchers have found that a specific genetic change called the A53T mutation acts like an "on switch" that gets stuck. This causes hyperexcitability—a state where the brain’s electrical system becomes overactive (Peters et al., 2020).

This overactivity can lead to:

• Seizures: Sudden, intense bursts of electricity in the brain.

• Myoclonus: Quick, involuntary muscle jerks (e.g., sudden twitch).

• Sleep Disruptions: Changes in normal sleep patterns that happen long before other symptoms appear.

  
  

  The Role of the "Tau" ProteinA protein in our brain called tau (pronounced rhymes with "how") normally helps maintain brain

  cell stability. But in these diseases, tau can help the "electrical storms" get worse.

  A study by Peters et al. (2020) found that when they removed this tau protein in a laboratory setting, brain electrical activity was reduced significantly. This suggests that finding ways to manage tau could help "quiet" the brain and protect it from damage.

  
  

  Why Early Awareness Matters

  Research by Beagle et al. (2017) shows that people with these brain conditions have a much higher risk of seizures than the general public. Because these electrical changes often start very early, identifying them through things like an electroencephalogram (EEG), a test that records brain waves, could help doctors find better ways to treat these diseases before they get worse.

References

Beagle, A. J., Darwish, S. M., Ranasinghe, K. G., La, A. L., Karageorgiou, E., & Vossel, K. A. (2017). Relative incidence of seizures and myoclonus in Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 60(1), 211–223. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-170031

Peters, S. T., Fahrenkopf, A., Choquette, J. M., Vermilyea, S. C., Lee, M. K., & Vossel, K. (2020). Ablating tau reduces hyperexcitability and moderates electroencephalographic slowing in transgenic mice expressing A53T human α-synuclein. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 563. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00563