Autism and Epilepsy

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I think I read somewhere that a third of children with autism also have seizures. What about the reverse? Does anyone know what percentage of children with epilepsy go on to develop autism? Is there any link between the two conditions?
 
Since the causes of both autism and epilepsy aren't completely understood, and since both disorders present very differently from individual to individual, it can be difficult to separate out "which came first". Generally speaking, autism is diagnosed first, and epilepsy develops later, rather than the other way around. At least in some cases, research indicates that there may be a common genetic cause: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110408075031.htm In these situations, the presence of one disorder can be a marker for (rather than a cause of) the other.

There's also seems to be a connection between an anti-seizure drug taken in pregnancy, and the development of autism: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201162028.htm This suggests the possibility that a combination of genetics with environmental influences on the developing brain (pre-natally and in early infancy) can set the stage for the development of autism. The genetics may predispose someone to a higher vulnerability to autism or epilepsy, but there may also be secondary triggers that allow the disorders to emerge.
 
Welcome to the forum, Um-Adam!

Yes, I had read the same thing.

http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/Epilepsy+and+Autism
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/autism-and-epilepsy

I haven't heard of epilepsy causing autism. There is so little research on epilepsy at all. There's much less than on autism. Some suspect there is a third reason that is causing both epilepsy and autism together, like the structure of the brain or brain cells. I found a site that quotes reasearch in that area, but they didn't cite their sources, or the names of the studies. I searched on www.pubmed.com and couldn't find the study. Here's the author of one of the quotes: Anthony-Samuel LaMantia
http://gwtoday.gwu.edu/learningresearch/gwestablishesinstituteforneuroscience


Here's the site that refers to the research. Take it with a HUGE grain of salt - put on your skeptic hat. I think the site is full of opinions and misinformation presented as facts. There may still be something usable in it, if we can chase down the studies. http://regardingautism.blogspot.com/2010/07/follow-up-on-febrile-seizures.html
 
This is interesting information. My daughter was just diagnosed with epilepsy. She does not have autism but my son and my brother do. I am wondering if there is some sort of genetic component that links the two.
 
Thankyou so much everyone. I learn so much every time I jump on this site. My son is still in the midst of his Paed and Nureo trying to work out what is going on with him and his seizures. His Paed, like us, is wondering what the next year or so holds and what he will be diagnosed with, if they can find out. Good news is though at 11 1/2 months he finnally pulled himself along the floor for the first time a few days ago. Its a half commando crawl and my physio and other have noticed, as have we, he doesn't us his left leg at all when he does it but its so great as he has been on "pause" with his development for almost 5 months. Thankfully his seizures are stil small and he communicates well most of the time, other than when in his hyperactive overstimulated state.
Thankyou so much for the great links. I find so much comfort and hope from this site. Thankyou all for sharing.
Donnajane
 
This topic is of particular interest to me, as my son Luke started experiencing seizures between 6-8 months of age, and now at the age of 33 months, he has now been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder :(. This is after exhaustive genetic testing drawing a blank on known genetic disorders.

The Clinical Psychologist thought that it was unusual for autistic kids to have epilepsy. However, I do know that kids with Angelman's syndrome are frequently misdiagnosed with Autism.

I think the answer may be there is an underlying neurogenetic disorder that is the source of both the epilepsy and the autistic like symptoms. II think medical science has a long way to go in undersanding these disorders.
 
Seanr53 I found your post really interesting. My son is now almost 16 1/2 months and nureo and specialists are still looking into what is causing his seizures, sometimes strange behaviour and other issues. His seizures now can be longer or as the nureo says he is walking in a cloud a lot longer after, sometimes though not even being able to walk. He has weeks where they are every day or even more frequent then he only has small shakes, vague outs etc for awhile then they are back again. We are seeing metabolic specialist next week and then MRI july 13th. Everyone knows my son is not quite right but as of yet can't work out whats going on. We keep getting told time will tell us and then nureo said we will look back and we will see the early signs. It is such a journey but all want is to be able to help my little man develop to his full potential. Thanks again for your post.
 
Seanr53 I found your post really interesting. My son is now almost 16 1/2 months and nureo and specialists are still looking into what is causing his seizures, sometimes strange behaviour and other issues. His seizures now can be longer or as the nureo says he is walking in a cloud a lot longer after, sometimes though not even being able to walk. He has weeks where they are every day or even more frequent then he only has small shakes, vague outs etc for awhile then they are back again. We are seeing metabolic specialist next week and then MRI july 13th. Everyone knows my son is not quite right but as of yet can't work out whats going on. We keep getting told time will tell us and then nureo said we will look back and we will see the early signs. It is such a journey but all want is to be able to help my little man develop to his full potential. Thanks again for your post.

Hi Donnajane, I hope your little man's tests go OK, and you get some answers soon. Let us know how it all goes.
 
My son is autistic (PDD-NOS) and recently started having partial seizures. In my autism community that I am involved with there are a lot of kids that have seizures as well as autism. I was told by my neuro (and have seen with my friends) that a lot of kids with autism that have seizures usually start when they are 7, 8, 9 years old. They do go hand in hand - not sure why. I do know that A LOT more research needs to be done for both for us to completely understand what is going on.
 
My two youngest children, both boys, have mild Autism. My oldest, 11 yo, was just diagnosed with epilepsy. The studies I have read put the likelihood of an Autistic child developing Autism at between 45%-62%. That number is based on several different studies I have read. I do know (again, I read lots of studies lol) that there has proven to be a relationship between kids with Autism and relatives who have bipolar, ADD/HD and schizophrenia. Absolutely true in our family, lots of Bipolar and ADD/HD.
 
With my son having Autism I have encountered in other families the Autism/ Epilepsy combination. From what I have witnessed the Autism itself is pretty severe. Often there will be a developmental delay and other Autism signs very early on. In some cases the ketogenic diet can be extremely effective but also can be extremely difficult to get an Autistic child to respond to depending on how much food plays on their sensory issues. One mother I know had great success with her son because he would eat anything and was very orally stimulated. The problem was he would eat absolutely everything and even a bubble on his tounge was enough to throw out his ketones. It was sad to watch sometimes, because he'd be at play group stuck with raw veges and everyone else would be eating popcorn and crackers.
 
Generally speaking, autism is diagnosed first, and epilepsy develops later, rather than the other way around.

There is nearly always an excption to the general way things work.

I developed seizures when I was two weeks old. I was first prescribed vitamin B6 by my paediatrician when I was five months old. Vitamin B6 stopped my severe seizures (including Status Epilepticus). To cut a long story short Pyridoxine Dependent Epilepsy was officially diagnosed - this all happened back in 1970-71.

In 2005 I was officially diagnosed with Dislexia. When researching both of these conditions I found the following sites:

http://www.autism.org.uk/asperger

http://www.autism.org.uk/imported%20content/lazarus/approaches-therapies-and-interventions/diet-and-supplements/diet-and-vitamins-therapeutic-approaches.aspx (page 2)

http://legacy.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_b6safe.htm

... a very, very small part of my research.

I was officially diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2011 - some 10 months after I presented my research to my GP. This was approx. 40 years after I had been diagnosed with the extremely rare form of Pyridoxine Dependent Epilepsy (http://faculty.washington.edu/sgospe/pyridoxine/index.html ) - and still largely unknown.

**DO NOT ALTER ANY MEDICATION WITHOUT YOUR DOCTOR'S CONSENT**
 
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I just read a study somewhere that indicated a definite link of seizures causing autism, and recommending a certain med to be given when seizures occur to prevent this. Can't find it just now, but will keep looking.

In our experience, our son was born with Down Syndrome and had slight autistic tendencies (common to many kids with disabilities) like a little bit of stimming (dangling small toys was his favorite), but nothing major.

He began having seizures at age 1, but then after a year, was put on Topomax and the seizures were controlled for 3.5 years. However, seizures then came back, and either the seizures or the increased dose of Topomax caused him to lose his spoken language.

Then, after being put on Trileptal, he developed really bad autistic symptoms. He would have meltdowns (making loud repetitive noises and grunts and flapping his hands) in places with lots of lights and noise -- like Walmart or church. He became very hyperactive, and could sit in his chair more than 10 seconds. He couldn't even sit on the toilet long enough to have a bowel movement. His stimming got very pronounced, and he couldn't focus on anything. He became quite violent -- to the point where he was a danger to other kids at school -- this the child that had previously been the best behaved in his kindergarten classroom.

After taking off Trileptal the symptoms eased somewhat, but he still goes into "autism mode" occasionally -- flapping his hands, making repetitive grunts, spinning, stimming, etc. Noise and TV seem to trigger it.
 
I know that there's an overlap of people with autism having epilepsy as well as scientists having recently found that epilepsy & autism can be caused by the same genes but I haven't seen any research showing seizures to cause autism.

If you find the article or research PM me the link & I'll post it or post it but insert spaces where there are none & I'll see if I can edit in a link to the site.
 
OK, I found the article. It's in the "Epilepsy Foundation" journal, May 2012 and the article is titled "Preventing Autism after Epilepsy."

The article chronicles a study by Boston Children's Hospital.

"Led by Frances Jensen, MD, in the Department of Neurology and the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center at Boston Children's Hospital, the study suggests that seizures over-activate a biochemical pathway previously linked to autism, known as the mTOR pathway, and that this alters the fast-forming circuitry in infants' developing brains."


"In a model, Jensen and colleagues showed that early seizures not only resulted in epilepsy later in life, but also produced autistic-like behavior. They further showed that disabling the mTOR pathway--by giving the drug rapamycin before and after seizures--prevented development of abnormal patterns of connections (synapses) between brain cells, reduced later-life seizures and eased autistic-like symptoms."

"Findings were published May 2 in the online journal PLoS ONE.

"In children, there is overlap between epilepsy and autism, and epilepsy early in life has been linked to later autism," says Jensen of Boston Children's Hospital. "Our findings show one of probably many pathways that are involved in this overlap - importantly, one that is already a therapeutic target and where treatment can reverse the later outcome."



I'm p.m. you the link.

As mentioned, our son has Down Syndrome, and many kids with DS have autistic tendencies, but his became more pronounced when seizures started (for instance -- head banging -- he never did that before seizures) or later when seizures got worse.
 
Andrew, did you have the Aspergers all along, and just got diagnosed, or was this something that developed later in life for you?
 
I asked Andrew this question (and I'm assuming he probably had symptoms of Aspergers and ADD since childhood), but in our case, autistic symptoms did not manifest themselves in a pronounced way until age 5. Most kids present with autistic symptoms between ages of 18 months to maybe up to age 3. But our little Jonathan was developing fairly normally (bearing in mind that he has Down Syndrome, so will be delayed anyway). At any rate, he was developing speech, and was speaking in short phrases and sentences by age 3. From age 2 to age 5, he was seizure free while on Topomax, and during this time we saw good development progress. But then seizures resumed, and the dosage of Topomax was increased -- during this 6 months he lost almost all his speech -- from speaking in sentences to speaking only about 10 words. We always wonder if this regression in speech was due to the Topomax or due to an autistic type of regression triggered by the seizures?
 
I have been told by a clinical psychologist that Asperger's Syndrome is something you are born with - it doesn't develop mid life.

It was through my own research looking deep into my type of epilepsy that I stumbled across Asperger's Syndrome and realized that I had some of the same traits.

Also my Pyridoxine Dependent Epilepsy is caused by a genetic mutation.

So I have had Epilepsy, Dyslexia and Asperger's Syndrome from birth.

So why wasn't my Asperger's Syndrome discovered earlier? Either it was all thought of as part of my epilepsy and over looked, or my B vitamins - mainly vitamin B6 - as this was the only medication I used as a child, was controlling my Asperger's Syndrome to some degree, like my B vitamins control my severe seizures.
 
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