New research suggests that genetics play a role in sleep and waking time of seizures.
Researchers at Columbia University found that seizures were likely to occur at the same time in the sleep/wake cycle for many patients.
"Our study provides the first evidence for a genetic contribution to sleep/wake timing of seizures. These results improve our understanding of the biology of sleep and seizures and can lead to better care of families affected by epilepsy," lead study author Columbia University's Dr. Melodie Winawer, said.
During this recent study, researchers examined close to 1,400 people with epilepsy in families containing multiple people with epilepsy in order to determine how sleep/wake timing of seizures might influence families.
Findings revealed that seizures in relatives were more likely to occur at the same time during the sleep/wake cycle. For instance, if one sibling with epilepsy in a family had seizures primarily during sleep, the the other sibling would also be more likely to have seizures while sleeping. Those with seizures that occurred while awake were also more likely to have relatives who had seizures that occurred while they were awake.
Epilepsy is the result of a neurological disorder that's caused by malfunctioning nerve cell activity in the brain. Because of these malfunctions, seizures can occur, according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Estimates suggest that every year, 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with epilepsy and as many as 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy in his or her lifetime. Americans also spend as much as $15.5 billion caring for and treating individuals with epilepsy every year.
Seizures can typically cause a range of symptoms and may be different for some than others. For some, they may result in blank stares or loss of awareness or uncontrollable twitching. On the other hand, some seizures may result in milder symptoms.
Some types may also have triggers, including light, stress and lack of sleep, among other things. Health officials believe that seizures can be divided into two main types, including focal seizures, composed primarily of simple and dyscognitive, and generalized seizures, including several subtypes, such as tonic, clonic, absence, atonic, myoclonic and tonic-clonic, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
The study is published Monday (March 7) in the journal Epilepsia.
