BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Seizures from brain injury are a target for treatment before dementia-causing brain changes occur

14 March 2021

Spreading Tau

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a car accident or fall can lead to debilitating chronic conditions such as epilepsy. Later in life, it also increases the risk of a patient developing dementia. Could this be because TBI-induced seizures accelerate the spread of tau, the toxic proteins that accumulate in the brain in dementia? To tackle this question, researchers studied zebrafish whose tau proteins were made fluorescent for easy tracking. After experiencing head injury, many zebrafish had reduced blood circulation (shown in the left panel of this video), seizure-like behaviours, and signs of that tau proteins were spreading through the brain. Treatment with anticonvulsant drugs helped not only to prevent their seizures, but also reduce tau proteins levels and slow neuron death. Additional research on this link between TBI seizures and dementia could offer new treatments to help reduce the risk and impact of neurodegeneration caused by tau proteins.

Written by Gaëlle Coullon

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.