'Big Science, Small Pod' podcast: What makes seizures start?

Not all cases of epilepsy are the same. Some people have a few seizures, begin taking one of 30 or more epilepsy medications available, and live a typical life.

But for about a half million U.S. children with treatment-resistant disease, it’s far worse. Their seizures keep coming, making them more likely to die young. They’re at greater risk for learning problems, social and emotional difficulties, and social isolation.

Many of these epilepsies are caused by genetic mutations. Matthew Weston, a neuroscientist at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, leads a team working to identify them.

In the latest episode of "Big Science Small Pod," Weston explains what happens in the brain during seizures and how his lab is researching their genetic roots to help develop new treatments for children.

“My goal,” Weston said, “is to understand this in a way that has an … effect on patient care, focused on making these kids’ lives better.”

More about Matthew Weston

Weston is an associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke. His lab investigates the balance between inhibition and excitation in the brain and how genetic variations can affect that balance in ways that lead to childhood eplilepsies.

About the podcast

"Big Science, Small Pod" is a compact guide to the human body and how it works, powered by the world-class scientists of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. We ask fundamental questions about the human body, health, and disease, and get answers from research institute experts, who also tell us how their research illuminates these systems and how to better treat the diseases that affect them.

Listen and subscribe to "Big Science, Small Pod" on major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.