Autism and Epilepsy

Jamie K Capal; Shafali S Jeste

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.004

Autism and Epilepsy

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2024 Apr;71(2):241-252. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.004. Epub 2024 Feb 2.

Authors

Jamie K Capal¹, Shafali S Jeste²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 170 Manning Drive, CB 7025, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: jamie.capal@cidd.unc.edu.
² Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.

PMID: 38423718
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.004

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common comorbidities in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Risk factors include the presence of developmental delay/intellectual disability, female sex, age, and an underlying genetic condition. Due to higher prevalence of epilepsy in ASD, it is important to have a high index of suspicion for seizures and refer to a neurologist if there are concerns. Genetic testing is recommended for all children with ASD but it becomes more high yield in children with epilepsy and ASD.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Epilepsy; Genetics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / epidemiology
Autistic Disorder* / epidemiology
Child
Comorbidity
Epilepsy* / diagnosis
Epilepsy* / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Intellectual Disability*