Is epilepsy partly genetic?

Question

Is epilepsy partly genetic?

Answer 1

It is not letting me post the entire article.  The rest of it is online.  Comprehensive.

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Epilepsy/G...

Genetics play a part in many types of epilepsy. It seems likely that the seizure threshold, for example, is partly determined by genetics. Epilepsy often runs in families:

    *      If a parent has idiopathic epilepsy, there is about a 9% to 12% chance that the child will also have epilepsy.

    *      Although epilepsy that runs in families is uncommon, if a child has epilepsy, his brothers and sisters do have a higher risk of having epilepsy.

    *      If one twin has idiopathic epilepsy, the identical twin is very likely to have it as well.

    *      For some reason, children of women with epilepsy have a higher chance of having epilepsy than children of men with epilepsy.

Family studies have shown that some epilepsy syndromes are completely determined by genetics, and genes are a major factor in other syndromes. Some inherited metabolic conditions also raise the likelihood of having seizures, as do some chromosomal disorders.

What types of genetic disorders are there?

There are five types of genetic disorders:

    *      Single gene or Mendelian disorders. These result when a mutation causes a single gene to be altered or missing. Single gene disorders are typically described as inherited in families, since they are passed from one generation to the next.

    *      Multifactorial or complex disorders. These are related to mutations in a number of genes, often coupled with an environmental influence. Environmental factors include things like alcohol or drug use, maternal infections, and exposure to hazardous materials. These disorders tend to run in families, although a pattern of inheritance is often difficult to identify.

    *      Mitochondrial disorders. These disorders result from mutations in DNA found outside the cell nucleus in mitochondria. Mitochondria are structures that make energy for the cells. If there is a mitochondrial gene mutation, energy production is affected. The DNA in mitochondria is inherited only from the mother.

    *      Chromosomal disorders. These disorders result when entire chromosomes or parts of chromosomes are missing or changed. Chromosomal disorders usually occur spontaneously, however, on rare occasions they are inherited.

    *      Epigenetic disorders. These are disorders related to changes in the activity of genes, rather than a mutation in the structure of the DNA.

What epilepsy syndromes are tied to genetic disorders?

Genetic disorders can cause epilepsy alone, or can result in a syndrome with a number of different effects on the organs and functions of the body, including epilepsy.

The inheritance of epilepsy is often complex. Two children with mutations on different genes may develop the same epilepsy syndrome. Two members of the same family with the same gene mutation may both develop epilepsy, but the effects in each person may be very different. Some epilepsy syndromes are known to have a genetic basis, but the specific gene or genes that cause them have not been identified.

In addition, some genetic conditions are not inherited, but arise spontaneously through new mutations.

The following provides some examples of epilepsy syndromes that may result from genetic disorders. The field of epilepsy genetics is expanding rapidly, and new genes involved in epilepsy are identified frequently. For more detailed information on specific syndromes, please consult your doctor or a genetic counsellor.

Single gene disorders

At least 20 syndromes whose main feature is epilepsy have been mapped to specific genes, and many more single-gene disorders that cause brain abnormalities or metabolic disorders can have epilepsy as one of their manifestations.

Single gene epilepsy syndromes

Autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with variable foci

Autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with variable foci first appears at 14 years of age on average. People with the syndrome have complex partial seizures originating in the temporal, frontal, or parietal lobe and secondarily generalized seizures.

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy  is a syndrome in which brief partial seizures arising from the frontal lobes of the brain occur in clusters at night. Different gene mutations cause different versions of this syndrome. This syndrome usually appears when the child is eight years old on average, and can be mistaken for night terrors. The syndrome can be mild or severe in different family members, which means that doctors and families often fail to realize that the syndrome runs in the family. In most patients, the syndrome is mild and responds well to medication. Some mutations may arise spontaneously.

Benign familial neonatal convulsions

Benign familial neonatal convulsions usually appear on the second or third day after birth. Children with this syndrome have generalized clonic or tonic seizures. The seizures usually disappear after about a week. Approximately 11% of children with this syndrome go on to have seizures later in life. This syndrome is caused by one of several possible gene mutations.

Benign infantile familial convulsions

Babies with benign infantile familial convulsions usually have clusters of partial seizures without fever, starting between the ages of four and eight months. The seizures are usually easy to control, and children do not generally have seizures later in life.

Familial temporal lobe epilepsy

People with familial temporal lobe epilepsy usually have partial seizures with psychic or autonomic symptoms. Rarely, secondarily generalized partial seizures also occur. The average age of onset is 19 years. The epilepsy is usually mild and responds well to medication.

Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus

Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus is caused by mutations to any of several different genes that affect two different ion channels. The syndrome causes various childhood-onset disorders, which can include febrile seizures, seizures without fever, partial epilepsy, myoclonic-astatic epilepsy, and severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.

Progressive myoclonus epilepsies (PMEs)

The progressive myoclonus epilepsies (PMEs) are a group of rare disorders in which there is progressive neurological deterioration together with myoclonus (twitching) and epilepsy. Several PMEs have autosomal recessive inheritance, including:

    *      Unverricht-Lundborg disease, whiWhat role do genetics play in epilepsy?

Genetics play a part in many types of epilepsy. It seems likely that the seizure threshold, for example, is partly determined by genetics. Epilepsy often runs in families:

    *      If a parent has idiopathic epilepsy, there is about a 9% to 12% chance that the child will also have epilepsy.

    *      Although epilepsy that runs in families is uncommon, if a child has epilepsy, his brothers and sisters do have a higher risk of having epilepsy.

    *      If one twin has idiopathic epilepsy, the identical twin is very likely to have it as well.

    *      For some reason, children of women with epilepsy have a higher chance of having epilepsy than children of men with epilepsy.

Family studies have shown that some epilepsy syndromes are completely determined by genetics, and genes are a major factor in other syndromes. Some inherited metabolic conditions also raise the likelihood of having seizures, as do some chromosomal disorders.

What types of genetic disorders are there?

There are five types of genetic disorders:

    *      Single gene or Mendelian disorders. These result when a mutation causes a single gene to be altered or missing. Single gene disorders are typically described as inherited in families, since they are passed from one generation to the next.

    *      Multifactorial or complex disorders. These are related to mutations in a number of genes, often coupled with an environmental influence. Environmental factors include things like alcohol or drug use, maternal infections, and exposure to hazardous materials. These disorders tend to run in families, although a pattern of inheritance is often difficult to identify.

    *      Mitochondrial disorders. These disorders result from mutations in DNA found outside the cell nucleus in mitochondria. Mitochondria are structures that make energy for the cells. If there is a mitochondrial gene mutation, energy production is affected. The DNA in mitochondria is inherited only from the mother.

    *      Chromosomal disorders. These disorders result when entire chromosomes or parts of chromosomes are missing or changed. Chromosomal disorders usually occur spontaneously, however, on rare occasions they are inherited.

    *      Epigenetic disorders. These are disorders related to changes in the activity of genes, rather than a mutation in the structure of the DNA.

What epilepsy syndromes are tied to genetic disorders?

Genetic disorders can cause epilepsy alone, or can result in a syndrome with a number of different effects on the organs and functions of the body, including epilepsy.

The inheritance of epilepsy is often complex. Two children with mutations on different genes may develop the same epilepsy syndrome. Two members of the same family with the same gene mutation may both develop epilepsy, but the effects in each person may be very different. Some epilepsy syndromes are known to have a genetic basis, but the specific gene or genes that cause them have not been identified.

In addition, some genetic conditions are not inherited, but arise spontaneously through new mutations.

Answer 2

Yes it could be, specially who have epilepsy in the  family history.

Answer 3

Some genetic diseases are associated with seizures, yes.

Answer 4

It is, but not necessarily.