Publications by authors named "Nathan Speakes"

Article Synopsis
  • Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic disorder marked by hard-to-control seizures, developmental delays, and a risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
  • Most cases are linked to genetic changes in the SCN1A gene, with different genetic and environmental factors affecting the severity of the disease.
  • Recent research identified specific genetic modifiers (Dsm2 and Dsm3) that impact the survival outcomes for Dravet syndrome, highlighting potential candidate genes that could be targeted for new treatments.
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Dravet syndrome is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by intractable seizures, comorbidities related to developmental, cognitive, and motor delays, and a high mortality burden due to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Most Dravet syndrome cases are attributed to haploinsufficiency, with genetic modifiers and environmental factors influencing disease severity. Mouse models with heterozygous deletion of recapitulate key features of Dravet syndrome, including seizures and premature mortality; however, severity varies depending on genetic background.

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Pathogenic variants in KCNB1 are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder spectrum that includes global developmental delays, cognitive impairment, abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns, and epilepsy with variable age of onset and severity. Additionally, there are prominent behavioral disturbances, including hyperactivity, aggression, and features of autism spectrum disorder. The most frequently identified recurrent variant is KCNB1-p.

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Pathogenic variants in are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder spectrum that includes global developmental delays, cognitive impairment, abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns, and epilepsy with variable age of onset and severity. Additionally, there are prominent behavioral disturbances, including hyperactivity, aggression, and features of autism spectrum disorder. The most frequently identified recurrent variant is -p.

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