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Review
. 2014 Dec:41:297-306.
doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.05.026. Epub 2014 Jun 25.

Genetics of cognition in epilepsy

Robyn M Busch  1 , Imad Najm  2 , Bruce P Hermann  3 , Charis Eng  4
Affiliations
Review

Genetics of cognition in epilepsy

Robyn M Busch et al. Epilepsy Behav. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

With the completion of the Human Genome Project and the advent of more advanced sequencing platforms capable of high throughput genotyping at reduced cost, research on the genetics/genomics of cognition has expanded rapidly over the past several decades. This has been facilitated even further by global consortia including HapMap, 1000 Genomes Project, ENCODE, and others, which have made information regarding genetic variation and genomic functional elements readily available to all researchers. Thus, the goal of this Targeted Review is not to provide an exhaustive review of the existing literature on the role of genetic factors in cognition. Rather, we will highlight some of the most consistent findings in this field, review the research in epilepsy to date, and provide a background within which to set forth unique opportunities epilepsy may provide to further elucidate the role of genetics in cognition.

Keywords: Cognition; Epilepsy; Epilepsy surgery; Genetics; Genomics; Neuropsychology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures

Dr. Eng is an unpaid member of the external scientific advisory board of EcoEos.

The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Detailed clinical testing conducted in patients who undergo surgery for medically refractory epilepsy may expand knowledge of the role of genomics in cognition
A) Most cognitive genetic studies to date have directly examined the relationship between genes (via candidate gene or genome wide association studies), derived from DNA from peripheral blood samples, and cognition. B) More recently, researchers have been able to better identify genes associated with cognition by including structural and functional MRI studies as endophenotypes between genes and cognition. C) Data obtained from patients with epilepsy who undergo surgery for treatment of seizures may provide a unique opportunity to investigate the role of epigenetics, proteomics, and transcriptomics from resected brain tissue. D) as well as a host of other potentially important endophenotypes (e.g. scalp and intracranial EEG, cortical stimulation MEG, PET, SPECT) that may further elucidate the role of genomics in cognition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Thinking about cognition and epilepsy.
    Mefford HC. Mefford HC. Epilepsy Behav. 2014 Dec;41:276. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.09.007. Epub 2014 Sep 26. Epilepsy Behav. 2014. PMID: 25260241 No abstract available.

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