Epilepsy is a fairly common neurological disorder which causes recurring seizures. There are many types of epilepsy, where sometimes, the cause can be unknown. The symptoms can also vary - they might lose awareness, blankly stare for a few seconds, or experience convulsions (involuntary twitches). The usual treatment involves medication, sometimes it is necessary to resort to surgery, but it can also go away on its own. But could other disorders help develop new functional treatment options?
Actually yes, there is a known connection between epilepsy and bipolar disorder (type 1 specifically), and we can use it to our advantage. Studying the genetic links between these two conditions showed shared genetic variants and a causal relationship between them. The researchers have found six genomic loci tied to both disorders, and they are now highlighting the role of the SP4 gene as the possible key to treating both of these illnesses since it plays a big role in mood stabilization. If we want clear numbers, approximately 1,300 genetic variants were identified as influencing both epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
Since the connection was made from both of these conditions being commonly treated by mood stabilizers, is it possible that other disorders with similar treatment methods could also share genetic components? And how might this genetic overlap change the understanding of different brain disorders, such as schizophrenia or autism spectrum disorders?
There is a lot more research to be done, but gradually realizing all the ties and underlying mechanisms could reshape the way we view these conditions and open a path for better and more personalized treatment options to be developed, which would be extremely beneficial to our society.
Resources:
Ming Li, et al. (2024) Rethinking the connection between bipolar disorder and epilepsy from genetic perspectives
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