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Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation
Published on: August 4, 2023
The hypothalamus in episodic brain disorders
Sebastiaan Overeem1, Jorine A van Vliet, Gert J Lammers
1Narcolepsy Research Group, Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Episodic brain disorders (EBD) form an intriguing group of neurological diseases in which at least some of the symptoms occur in attacks. The hypothalamus integrates many brain functions, including endocrine and autonomic control, and governs various body rhythms. It seems a likely site in which the initiation of attacks of EBD can be modulated. Indeed, the hypothalamus has a crucial role in EBD such as narcolepsy and cluster headache. The same may be true for migraine and depression. Here we summarise the evidence supporting an important role for the hypothalamus in the initiation of disease episodes in various EBD. Study of the various pathophysiological concepts of EBD within the context of the hypothalamus may prove a fruitful example of cross-fertilisation between various research areas.
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