This condition is one of the epilepsy syndromes.
What Causes JME?
Usually, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy occurs without a specific cause.
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There are no known risk factors that you might avoid to prevent yourself or your child from developing JME.
Measures like wearing helmets during contact sports and bike riding can help prevent brain injuries.
What Can Trigger Seizures in People with JME?
In addition to the usual seizure triggers, other factors can provoke a seizure in people with JME.
For example, avoiding stairs after waking up can help prevent falling and injuries.
Is JME Inherited?
Genes associated with JME include GABRA1, GABRD, EFHC1, BRD2, CASR, and ICK.
These genes are involved in brain development.
Alterations in these genes can affect the structure and function of the brain, potentially leading to epilepsy.
How Is JME Diagnosed?
If you or your child has had seizures, your healthcare providers will consider epilepsy a possible cause.
You or your child will likely need to see aneurologistor a pediatric neurologist during your epilepsy evaluation.
The diagnosis of JME involves a medical history, assessment of symptoms, and diagnostic testing.
The physical examination of a person with JME is expected to be normal.
How Is JME Treated?
Treatment of JME relies onantiepileptic medications (AEDs)and lifestyle measures to avoid seizure triggers.
Specific AEDs are beneficial for preventing seizures in JME.
Certain AEDs are known to worsen the seizure frequency and severity of seizures in JME.
The outlook for people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy varies.
The condition can change over a person’s lifetime in several ways.
Most people with JME continue to take medication and achieve good seizure control with medication.
Others with this condition continue to have seizures despite medication, potentially requiringepilepsy surgery.
Additionally, some people with this condition can develop cognitive or physical challenges.
Maintaining close follow-up with your neurologist is important so you’re able to have adequate seizure control.
JME involves several seizure types, with myoclonic seizures being the most common.
Medication is usually effective for controlling and preventing seizures in JME.
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