The Massachusetts General Hospital researchers said the enzyme involved in the formation of the amyloid-beta protein associated with Alzheimer's can also alter the mechanism by which signals are transmitted between brain cells, and that might explain the increased incidence of seizures seen in some Alzheimer's patients.

The finding also suggests potential treatments that block the enzyme -- called beta-secretase or BACE -- might alleviate seizure occurrence.

The research is available online in the journal Nature Cell Biology.