FIGURE 1:
Lifetime Prevalence of Migraine in
EPGP Participants, by History of Seizure Disorders
in Non-Enrolled First-Degree Relatives
Prevalence of Migraine
50%
40%
Migraine with Aura
Migraine without Aura Only
30%
20%
10%
0%
None
1
≥2
Number of additional first-degree relatives
reported to have had seizure disorders
not increase with the number of first-degree affected individuals
with seizures. This corresponds to the thought that auras are a
phenomenon that has some similarity to seizures – they are transient
neurological disturbances in the brain. A strong relationship
between MA and epilepsy has been found in other research studies
as well.
We then continued to separate our results according to the type
of epilepsy experienced by the study participants – either focal
epilepsy or generalized epilepsy. We found that the evidence for a
shared genetic effect on migraine and epilepsy was just as strong in
the individuals with focal epilepsy as with generalized epilepsy. This
result was also as strong if both participants in the family had the
same type of epilepsy or different types of epilepsy.
Our results are the first demonstration of a shared genetic effect
on migraine and epilepsy in a large group of individuals with
common epilepsy and common migraine. About two-thirds of
epilepsy has no identified cause. Genetic factors may play a critical
role particularly in that subset of epilepsy. The hope of scientists,
caregivers, and families with epilepsy is that genetics will lead to
greater understanding of the causes and the pathophysiology of
epilepsy. Understanding more about the genetics of a disorder can
help clarify the underlying biology of that disorder. That knowledge
can be used to develop targeted new therapies, and allow physicians
to better care for patients with epilepsy and migraine. HW
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