Albert J. Becker
A5003615920- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Epilepsy research and treatment
- Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments
- Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity Studies
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Genomics and Rare Diseases
- RNA regulation and disease
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Meningioma and schwannoma management
- Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Melanoma and MAPK Pathways
- Neurofibromatosis and Schwannoma Cases
- Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Studies
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- interferon and immune responses
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
University of Bonn
2016-2025
Universität Hamburg
2015-2025
University Hospital Bonn
2016-2025
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
2025
Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland
2024
University of Amsterdam
2024
Amsterdam Neuroscience
2024
University Medical Center Utrecht
2024
The Ohio State University
2021
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2021
Purpose: Focal cortical dysplasias (FCD) are localized regions of malformed cerebral cortex and very frequently associated with epilepsy in both children adults. A broad spectrum histopathology has been included the diagnosis FCD. An ILAE task force proposes an international consensus classification system to better characterize specific clinicopathological FCD entities. Methods: Thirty-two Task Force members have reevaluated available data on electroclinical presentation, imaging,...
Detailed neuropathological information on the structural brain lesions underlying seizures is valuable for understanding drug-resistant focal epilepsy.We report diagnoses made basis of resected specimens from 9523 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery in 36 centers 12 European countries over 25 years. Histopathological were determined through examination local hospitals (41%) or at German Neuropathology Reference Center Epilepsy Surgery (59%).The onset occurred before 18 years age 75.9%...
Classical paraneoplastic encephalitis syndromes with 'onconeural' antibodies directed to intracellular antigens, and the recently described or non-paraneoplastic encephalitides against both neural surface antigens (voltage-gated potassium channel-complexes, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors) (glutamic acid decarboxylase-65), constitute an increasingly recognized group of immune-mediated brain diseases. Evidence for specific immune mechanisms, however, is scarce. Here, we report qualitative...
Inherited channelopathies are at the origin of many neurological disorders. Here we report a form channelopathy that is acquired in experimental temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), most common adults. The excitability CA1 pyramidal neuron dendrites was increased TLE because decreased availability A-type potassium ion channels due to transcriptional (loss channels) and posttranslational (increased channel phosphorylation by extracellular signal-regulated kinase) mechanisms. Kinase inhibition partly...
The epilepsies affect around 65 million people worldwide and have a substantial missing heritability component. We report genome-wide mega-analysis involving 15,212 individuals with epilepsy 29,677 controls, which reveals 16 significant loci, of 11 are novel. Using various prioritization criteria, we pinpoint the 21 most likely genes at these majority in genetic generalized epilepsies. These diverse biological functions, including coding for ion-channel subunits, transcription factors...
The World Health Organization (WHO) classification and grading system attempts to predict the clinical course of meningiomas based on morphological parameters. However, because high interobserver variation some criteria, more reliable prognostic markers are required. Here, we assessed TERT promoter for mutations in hotspot regions C228T C250T meningioma samples from 252 patients. Mutations were detected 16 (6.4% across cohort, 1.7%, 5.7%, 20.0% WHO grade I, II, III cases, respectively). Data...
We propose a histopathological classification system for hippocampal cell loss in patients suffering from mesial temporal lobe epilepsies (MTLE). One hundred and seventy-eight surgically resected specimens were microscopically examined with respect to neuronal subfields CA1–CA4 dentate gyrus. Five distinct patterns recognized within consecutive cohort of anatomically well-preserved surgical specimens. The first group comprised hippocampi densities not significantly different age matched...
Aging involves a decline in neural function that contributes to cognitive impairment and disease. However, the mechanisms underlying transition from young-and-healthy aged-and-dysfunctional brain are not well understood. Here, we report breakdown of vascular blood-brain barrier (BBB) aging humans rodents, which begins as early middle age progresses end life span. Gain-of-function loss-of-function manipulations show this BBB dysfunction triggers hyperactivation transforming growth factor-β...
A single episode of status epilepticus (SE) causes numerous structural and functional changes in the brain that can lead to development a chronic epileptic condition. Most studies this plasticity have focused on excitatory inhibitory synaptic properties. However, intrinsic firing properties shape output neuron given input may also be persistently affected by SE. Thus, 54% CA1 pyramidal cells, which normally fire regular mode, are converted bursting mode after an SE induced convulsant...
Temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS) is the most frequent diagnosis in autopsy and surgical series. TLE-HS usually starts during childhood or adolescence. There have been few studies of adult-onset disease. We recognized that some adult individuals evidence limbic encephalitis (LE), an autoimmune condition life, which we proposed might lead directly to this syndrome.We performed a retrospective analysis history, clinical paraclinical findings, brain MRI, outcome...
<h3>Objective</h3> To explore several characteristics of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy without distinct lesions on magnetic resonance images (MRI<sup>−</sup>), who account for a relevant proportion presurgical patient cohorts. <h3>Design</h3> Retrospective case series. <h3>Setting</h3> University center. <h3>Patients</h3> A cohort 1200 had comprehensive assessment from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2006. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Frequency MRI<sup>−</sup>patients in...
In both humans and animals, an insult to the brain can lead, after a variable latent period, appearance of spontaneous epileptic seizures that persist for life. The underlying processes, collectively referred as epileptogenesis, include multiple structural functional neuronal alterations. We have identified T-type Ca 2+ channel v 3.2 central player in epileptogenesis. show transient selective upregulation subunits on mRNA protein levels status epilepticus causes increase cellular currents...
Gene-regulatory network analysis is a powerful approach to elucidate the molecular processes and pathways underlying complex disease. Here we employ systems genetics approaches characterize genetic regulation of pathophysiological in human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Using surgically acquired hippocampi from 129 TLE patients, identify gene-regulatory genetically associated with that contains specialized, highly expressed transcriptional module encoding proconvulsive cytokines Toll-like...