Figure 1. A model for targeted epileptogenesis drug development.

Following a wide array of brain insults, epilepsy develops over a prolonged latent period. During this latent period both cellular, networking, and underlying molecular events occur that create an often permanent state of recurrent seizures. Current medications work mostly as anticonvulsants preventing seizures, but have little proven effects on epileptogenesis. Newer, truly anti-epileptogenic drugs that target either acute or more chronic molecular events during the latent period are needed. One hypothesis, is that feedback between cellular, electrical, and molecular events grows the epileptic focus over time until a threshold is reached that is capable of producing clinical seizures.