Scientists from Nizhny Novgorod have found a new way to treat epilepsy.

      September 17, 2025 13:16

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      SocietyScientists from the Nizhny Novgorod IT campus "Neimark" and Lobachevsky University have made an important discovery in understanding the nature of epilepsy and its treatment possibilities. For the first time, researchers have proven that not only neurons but also astrocytes — special brain cells previously underestimated in this context — play a key role in the development and termination of epileptic seizures.

      Until recently it was believed that epileptic seizures arise exclusively from neuronal dysfunction. Modern therapies have been mainly focused on stabilizing these cells. However, this approach is far from always effective.

      Using a complex computer model, the scientists were able to simulate the behavior of neuronal ensembles during a seizure. The experiment showed that astrocytes, responding to pathological neuronal activity, begin to produce a substance that helps stop the seizure.

      Gleb Nikitin, Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, noted that what was science fiction yesterday is becoming reality today thanks to the painstaking work of Nizhny Novgorod scientists. According to the regional head, the new study is a vivid example of the ability of Nizhny Novgorod science to influence people's futures.

      As Susanna Gordleeva, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, head of the neuromorphic computing center at the IT campus and director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at NNSU, said, the model not only reproduces the dynamics of epileptic activity but also shows that the statistics of seizures match observations in laboratory animals. This confirms the active involvement of astrocytes in the regulation of epileptic states.

      The study showed that the effectiveness of astrocytes in suppressing neuronal hyperexcitability depends on their functional state. This finding paves the way for the development of fundamentally new treatment methods — therapies aimed at enhancing the protective properties of the astrocytes themselves.

      According to Ekaterina Solntseva, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the results of the Nizhny Novgorod scientists' work could form the basis for creating a new generation of drugs that offer hope to millions of patients diagnosed with epilepsy.

      The scientific article with the study results will be published in the October issue of the international journal Computers in Biology and Medicine. The publication specializes in advanced developments in biomedical engineering and computational biology.

      The Nizhny Novgorod IT campus where the work was carried out is an interuniversity platform combining education, scientific research and industry collaboration. The campus implements educational programs in artificial intelligence, microelectronics, information security and other fields, and actively involves schoolchildren and students in scientific activities.

      The project to create a network of campuses in Russia is being implemented at the instruction of President Vladimir Putin. By 2030, the opening of 25 such student towns is planned, and by 2036 their number will increase to 40. Campuses are being created as modern spaces for youth development, with flexible architecture and extensive opportunities for scientific and educational activities.

      Earlier it was reported that leading scientists from the Nizhny Novgorod IT campus delivered presentations at the 5th International Volga Neuroscience Meeting 2025 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

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