Abstracts

Summary: Epilepsy is a common co-morbidity diagnosed in combination with diseases such as Fragile X, Autism Tuberous Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s. It is not known if the appearance of non-provoked seizures exacerbates the primary disease or is a protective mechanism brought about to achieve homeostasis. While different disease states manifest with distinct symptomatologies, the underlying mechanisms can be one and the same. For example, the loss of FMR1 (fragile X mutation protein) results in both cognitive dysfunction and seizures. Additionally, the mechanism behind cognitive dysfunction and seizures in Alzheimer’s patients may be related to amyloid precursor protein. This workshop is designed to bring together experts both within and outside of epilepsy research in order to investigate the basic channelopathies and mechanistic dysfunction that underlie epilepsy and its comorbidities.