Gut–Brain Axis Modulation by Short-Chain Fatty Acids Exerts Disease-Modifying Effects in a Murine Model of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy - Takeaways - MDSpire

Modulation of the Gut-Brain Axis by Short-Chain Fatty Acids Influences Disease Progression in a Mouse Model of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

  • By

  • Akash A. Bera

  • Rossella Di Sapia

  • Greta Volpedo

  • Sneha Anand

  • Eray Sahin

  • Pasquale Baldassarre

  • Francesca Buffelli

  • Andrea Petretto

  • Chiara Lavarello

  • James D. Mills

  • Gabriele Cattaneo

  • Ilaria Craparotta

  • Eleonora Aronica

  • Antonella Riva

  • Pasquale Striano

  • Annamaria Vezzani

  • Teresa Ravizza

  • June 20, 2026

Share

  • 1

    Approximately one-third of individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy fail to achieve sustained seizure freedom with current antiseizure medications.

  • 2

    Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbiota may influence brain function and have potential roles in modulating epileptogenesis.

  • 3

    Chronic supplementation with a balanced SCFA mixture in a mouse model of drug-resistant epilepsy effectively attenuates seizure progression and cognitive deficits.

  • 4

    SCFA supplementation partially restores cerebral SCFA profiles and normalizes histopathology in both the brain and gut of epileptic mice.

  • 5

    Findings suggest SCFAs could be a promising disease-modifying strategy for drug-resistant epilepsy, particularly in progressive forms.

Original Source(s)

Gut–Brain Axis Modulation by Short-Chain Fatty Acids Exerts Disease-Modifying Effects in a Murine Model of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

  • by Akash A. Bera, Rossella Di Sapia, Greta Volpedo, Sneha Anand, Eray Sahin, Pasquale Baldassarre, Francesca Buffelli, Andrea Petretto, Chiara Lavarello, James D. Mills, Gabriele Cattaneo, Ilaria Craparotta, Eleonora Aronica, Antonella Riva, Pasquale Striano, Annamaria Vezzani, Teresa Ravizza

  • June 20, 2026

Related Content

Remimazolam versus propofol on seizure adequacy in electroconvulsive therapy: a retrospective cohort study

Clinical heterogeneity and diagnostic challenges in CASK-related neurodevelopmental disorders: a longitudinal observational study

“Homicide and Zonisamide”: a review of the literature and illustrative case report on second and third generation antiseizure medications and psychiatric effects