Is epilepsy hereditary?
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders that affects millions of people around the world. Although it is a disease with complex origins, research suggests that the genetic aspect plays an important role in its occurrence. In this article, we will take a closer look at this issue and find out whether epilepsy is indeed hereditary.
Genetic basis of epilepsy
Studies conducted on families with epilepsy have shown that there is a clear tendency to inherit the disease. It turned out that if one of the monozygotic twins suffers from epilepsy, the other is much more likely to develop it as well.
By analyzing the genetic material of people with epilepsy, the researchers identified many genes associated with the disease. These genes can affect functional processes of the brain, such as nerve transmission and control of electrical impulses. However, much still remains to be studied and understood.
Types of epilepsy inheritance
The genetic basis of epilepsy can be diverse and involve different mechanisms of inheritance. There are three main types of inheritance of this disease:
1. Autosomal dominant inheritance: In this case, only one altered copy of the gene is needed for a person to be susceptible to epilepsy. If one parent has this mutation, there is a 50% chance that their child will inherit it.
2. Autosomal recessive inheritance: for a person to inherit susceptibility to epilepsy in this case, he or she must have two altered copies of the gene, one from each parent. In this situation, the chance of inheriting the disease is lower.
3. Sex-linked inheritance: This type of inheritance has to do with sex chromosomes. The gene responsible for epilepsy is located on the X or Y chromosome. If the gene occurs on the X chromosome, men are more susceptible to the disease because they have only one X chromosome.
Other factors affecting the onset of epilepsy
Although the genetic aspect of epilepsy is important, it cannot be clearly stated that it is the only factor affecting the onset of the disease. There are many other factors that can influence its development, such as:
1. Environmental factors: Certain environmental factors, such as infections, brain injuries, unhealthy lifestyles, stress, or poor diet, can increase the risk of epilepsy.
2. De novo mutations: Sometimes genetic mutations that occur spontaneously in individuals during their development can lead to the development of epilepsy.
3. Neurological factors: Neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy, can increase the risk of epilepsy.
Summary
In conclusion, although epilepsy is a disease whose genetic background plays an important role, it cannot be reduced to this aspect alone. Studies suggest that there is autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and sex-linked inheritance. However, environmental factors, de novo mutations and other neurological factors also have a significant impact on the development of the disease. Therefore, it is important to conduct further research and gain more knowledge about epilepsy in order to effectively diagnose and treat it.
Sources:
Smith, C., & Smith, K. (2016). Genetics of epilepsy. In: Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Vol. 138,142 - 147.
Mulley, J., & Mefford, H. (2011). Genetics of epilepsies. In: Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Vol. 79,109 - 123.
Grundmann, K., & Lamar, K. (2019). Psychiatric Comorbidities in Epilepsy. In: Psychiatric Comorbidities in Neurological Disorders, Chapter 12, 207 - 223.
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