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Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

What You Should Know About Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

With the exception of stroke, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is the most common neurological abnormality, with one of every 2000 persons affected.  Treatment seeks to manage this condition, typically with pharmaceuticals. Some patients, after several years of medication, have succeeded in gradually decreasing medications and being free of seizures for long periods of time. Some controversy exists over the use of medications.

This is a complicated disorder, involving the central nervous system and requires a thorough and careful analysis by your  doctor before making a diagnosis of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Usually beginning in puberty, onset usually occurs between late childhood and early adulthood. There is a genetic link, in that you are more likely to develop juvenile myoclonic epilepsy if a relative suffers an epileptic condition.

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy researchers have identified specific genes associated with a greater risk of the disorder. However, the majority of these children do not develop the condition.

Seizures are a signature symptom in juvenilemyoclonicepilepsy, with seizures of varying degrees. Some may be as minor as petit mal, which is a temporary “blanking out”, where the patient adopts a blank stare, behaves oddly, has an “aura”, which is a peculiar odor, often followed by an odd chewing motion.

Myoclonic seizures involve quick, strong jerking motions in the arms and shoulder or, less typically, occurring in the legs. This type usually occurs in the morning. Myoclonic seizures may be followed by a grand mal. The grand mal is the most severe, with uncontrollable convulsions.

The patient sometimes may lose consciousness, which can result in injuries from the fall.

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Facts

People with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy often report that certain types of flickering lights have brought on seizures. This includes such common items as televisions, sunlight viewed through trees and reflected light such as sun reflecting on water or snow. Strobe lights have also been implicated in this type of trigger.

Other situations which occasionally will bring on myoclonic seizures are stress, numbers work and making significant decisions.

The electroencephalograph (EEG) of someone with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy shows sharp changes in response to certain stimuli, such as flashing lights, in patterns of waves and spikes. Some doctors believe an EEG taken during the patients sleep and continuing past awakening is the most reliable test upon which to make a diagnosis.

There are several medications available in the treatment of juvenilemyoclonicepilepsy. The controversy with these medications is because many patients experienced more severe and frequent seizures. Too high of a dose will produce this result as well. All clinical trials of these drugs neglect to test to see if symptoms become worse, while testing only to see that it suppresses seizures.

Hopefully, researchers will discover more about this puzzling condition and be able to help their patients manage this condition more effectively.

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