ASD + Epilepsy

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Does anyone know why Epilepsy is so common among people with ASD?
Studies show approx 30% of people with ASD have epilepsy, about 20% of adults with epilepsy have ADHD traits (which is significant in that many people with ASD also have some degree of ADHD). Do those overlaps have any significance in understanding/managing the conditions?

It has something to do with Gamma Amino Buytiric Acid (GABA) which is a neurotransmitter inhibitor not being able to be synthesised properly at the synaptic gate due to a glutamate malabsorption.

That's just my own personal theory anyway.

It's something that both Autistics and Epileptics have in common.

I started my own research into it as a layman, until it made my brain hurt and I had to stop. lol

If you buy the theory that autism results in the course of brain development, when neural circuits are either being laid down, or later destroyed (synaptic pruning), and that the events or non-events that cause autism are "abnormal" (just meaning, a difference from the norm) . . .

. . . and that epilepsy also is an abnormality of brain cells and/or circuits

. . . and that ADHD is also a brain-based abnormality of brain function

then I think that it is no surprise that there would be some correlation of these disorders.

An interesting aside is that depression and anxiety, as we all know here, are very likely correlates or co-morbidities of autism. Most of us explain this as an understandable result of estrangement, bullying, rejection by peers, and poor treatment from adult family and teachers, and I think there is definitely some validity to that view. But what if we are overlooking that there may be brain abnormalities that would cause anxiety and depression, even if the child and later adult are treated optimally? A biological explanation rather than a social one, in other words. Which is not to say that both causes can't be operating at the same time.

Last edited by BeaArthur on 15 Nov 2015, 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

That's a very good point - and I would add bipolar disorder (which is treated by anticonvulsants) to the list of common co-morbidities as well.

I agree, I hadn't considered that, however I had noticed that some drugs used for other psych categories such as some antipsychotics (I think?) are also used as anticonvulsants which I thought interesting.

Is it understood yet what impact epilepsy has on ASD traits?