New Delhi: Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affects approximately 50 million people globally, with nearly 10 million cases in India, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This makes epilepsy the second most common neurological condition worldwide. In India, with a prevalence of about 1% of the population, the condition poses a significant healthcare burden, particularly in resource-constrained regions where awareness and treatment options remain limited.

Dr Anup Rawool, Associate Director of Medical Genetics and Head of Scientific and Medical Affairs, at MedGenome, said, “Epilepsy arises due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with genetics contributing to about 70–80% of cases, as reported in recent studies. Acquired causes, including stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and infections such as neurocysticercosis, account for the remaining 20–30%. Although most cases lack a family history, mutations in genes like SCN1A, SCN2A, KCNQ2, and DEPDC5 have been linked to specific epilepsy syndromes. For instance, Dravet syndrome, often caused by mutations in the SCN1A gene, presents with severe pediatric epilepsy that is resistant to standard medications.”

Epilepsy encompasses a wide range of seizure types, from........

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