CBS LA: Doctor Discusses Epilepsy in Children

CBS LA recently interviewed Deborah Holder, MD, director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program and pediatric neurologist at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, about epilepsy—its prevalence, causes and symptoms—and how genetic testing advancements are helping tailor treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that epilepsy affects about 450,000 children under 18 and almost 3 million adults in the U.S.

“Everybody should educate themselves about epilepsy—the signs and symptoms and when they need to seek out treatment,” Holder told CBS LA.

She explained that epilepsy stems from various causes—brain injuries, infections, a congenital brain malformation and genetic factors. “About 50% of people who have epilepsy will have an underlying genetic cause,” she said.

Holder told CBS LA that signs of epilepsy can include repeated seizures, which can manifest as recurrent abnormal smells, tastes, behaviors or staring spells. If parents suspect their child may be experiencing seizures, she recommends consulting a doctor for an electroencephalogram, a noninvasive test that monitors brain waves and helps neurologists confirm an epilepsy diagnosis.

As the field has evolved, neurologists have identified hundreds of genes linked to epilepsy and improved genetic testing. She recommends that people with epilepsy receive a simple cheek swab to determine whether their condition is caused by genes.

Holder told CBS LA that Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s is conducting a clinical trial testing a gene therapy for children ages 2 to 18 with epilepsy.

“We now can actually fix the epilepsy at the root of the cause at the genetic level,” Holder said.

Watch the complete segment from CBS LA.