Shared Etiology in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy with Functional Disability

Figure 1

Genetic pathologies linked with epilepsy and ASD. Synaptic plasticity can be altered by epilepsy or seizures in an early phase of infantile development leading to ASD. Anomalies in neural plasticity can be a result of malfunctioning neurotrophins, signaling molecules, or receptors, resulting in a 30% reduction in dendritic spine density in hippocampus (Cornu Ammonis) CA3 neurons and a 40% reduction in prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons. Several genes involved in autism and epilepsy pathogenesis have been linked to this biochemical pathway critical in brain development and function.