Transcranial static magnetic stimulation reduces seizures in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome

Dravet syndrome is a rare form of severe genetic epilepsy characterized by recurrent and long-lasting seizures. It appears around the first year of life, with a quick evolution toward an increase in the frequency of the seizures, accompanied by a delay in motor and cognitive development, and does no...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental neurology 2023-12, Vol.370, p.114581-114581, Article 114581
Main Authors: Rivadulla, C., Pardo-Vazquez, J.L., de Labra, C., Aguilar, J., Suarez, E., Paz, C., Álvarez-Dolado, M., Cudeiro, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dravet
Epilepsy
Magnetic stimulation
Non invasive neuromodulation
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Summary:Dravet syndrome is a rare form of severe genetic epilepsy characterized by recurrent and long-lasting seizures. It appears around the first year of life, with a quick evolution toward an increase in the frequency of the seizures, accompanied by a delay in motor and cognitive development, and does not respond well to antiepileptic medication. Most patients carry a mutation in the gene SCN1A encoding the α subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.1, resulting in hyperexcitability of neural circuits and seizure onset. In this work, we applied transcranial static magnetic stimulation (tSMS), a non-invasive, safe, easy-to-use and affordable neuromodulatory tool that reduces neural excitability in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. We demonstrate that tSMS dramatically reduced the number of crises. Furthermore, crises recorded in the presence of the tSMS were shorter and less intense than in the sham condition. Since tSMS has demonstrated its efficacy at reducing cortical excitability in humans without showing unwanted side effects, in an attempt to anticipate a possible use of tSMS for Dravet Syndrome patients, we performed a numerical simulation in which the magnetic field generated by the magnet was modeled to estimate the magnetic field intensity reached in the cerebral cortex, which could help to design stimulation strategies in these patients. Our results provide a proof of concept for nonpharmacological treatment of Dravet syndrome, which opens the door to the design of new protocols for treatment. [Display omitted] •Static Magnetic Stimulation Effectively Reduces number of seizures in Dravet Syndrome Model.•Static Magnetic stimulation represents an affordable and Non-Invasive technique easily applicable to humans.•It could represent a complement to current available treatments.
ISSN:0014-4886
1090-2430
DOI:10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114581