Gene Behind The Most Common Form Of Epilepsy Uncovered!

An international team of researchers has identified a gene linked to the most common type of epilepsy called Rolandic epilepsy, which is associated with seizures starting in one part of the brain.

The team at Columbia University Medical Centre and found a region on chromosome 11 that was linked with Rolandic epilepsy.

Fits | Epilepsy | Convulsions - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment FAQs
Fits or convulsions or Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, involuntary seizures and is described as a chronic neurological disorder

While comparing this region in people with Rolandic epilepsy to unaffected controls, the researchers pinpointed the gene, called ELP4.

"Epilepsy medications are effective for many children but there is concern that some of the cognitive and behavioral problems that children with epilepsy often suffer might be attributable in part to these drugs," pediatric neurologist Deb Pal, M.D., Ph.D., Columbia University research scientist and senior author of the study.

"Most epilepsies have a genetic influence, much of which has yet to be discovered. If we knew the actual genetic causes, then we could try to stop or reverse the processes that lead to seizures and other neurological impairments.

Childhood Epilepsy - Classifying the seizure type and epilepsy
Childhood epilepsy is of four types – localization related epilepsy and syndromes, generalized epilepsies and syndromes and Epilepsies and syndromes undetermined whether focal or generalized.

"This finding will hopefully help lead us to the right intervention," he added.

ELP4 has never before been linked to a human disease but is related to a group of genes (transcriptional regulators) that recently have been associated with other common forms of epilepsy. All these genes appear to influence the organization of brain circuits during development.

Epilepsy and Slides
Epilepsy is a medical condition where the brain cells fire abnormal electrical signals that physically manifests as a ‘Seizure’. There should be two or more seizures before the term epilepsy should be used.

"We shouldn't think of epilepsy as just about the seizures, but also about all the other brain impairments we see, like a delay in speaking, reading difficulties, and attention problems," said Dr. Pal.

"Seizures are one, but not the only, consequence of these children's slightly altered brain development," he added.

Key Gene That Holds Clue For Common Form of Epilepsy Identified
Tiny variations in a key gene on Chromosome 15 may help explain a common form of epilepsy, according to a paper published online on Sunday by the journal Nature Genetics.

Rolandic epilepsy, named for the region of the brain affected by the seizures, begins almost exclusively in children between the ages of 3 and 12.

Seizures typically start in the morning just after the child wakes up and cause a loss of muscle tone in the face and a loss of speech. Seizures stop on their own after several minutes. Most children grow out of the disorder by adolescence.

The study is published in European Journal of Human.

Source-ANI
PRI/SK