Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment | Nervous System Disorders and Diseases medical answers | Body & Health Conditions center

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is a generalized form of epilepsy that mainly affects adolescents. With the right medication, these patients can live full lives largely unaffected by the condition. Getting the right diagnosis is essential.

An Overview of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is a primary generalized epilepsy syndrome that is idiopathic in nature. This means that the condition isn't caused by secondary issues such as strokes, head injuries, brain tumours, or infections but that the main cause behind the condition also remains unknown.

The condition affects mainly teenagers, although there have been cases where patients from 6 to 36 years of age have been diagnosed with this epilepsy syndrome. The peak age of incidence is between 12 and 18 years of age and it seems that juvenile myoclonic epilepsy occurs only slightly more commonly in females than in males.

Causes of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

It is suspected that genetic factors play a key role in the development of the condition. Specific mutations in certain genes have been identified in patients diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Even though it is commonly accepted that juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is an inherited disorder, the exact mode of inheritance is not really clear. Only around 30 percent of patients diagnosed with the condition have a family history of epilepsy.

Risk Factors for Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

The following risk factors may increase the risk that patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy will have seizures and convulsions:

A lack of sleep.
Using alcohol.
Increased physical and psychological stressors.
Not being compliant with medication used to manage epilepsy.
Menstruation.
Mornings are usually the time of day when seizures occur the most.

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: Clinical Presentation

Patients whi live with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy complain of experiencing myoclonic jerks (muscle fasciculations) that are irregular and brief and involve both sides of the body. It is this key symptom that led to the condition being categorized as a generalized epilepsy disorder. The most commonly affected areas in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy include the shoulders and arms but some patients may complain of jerking in the lower limbs, body, or head as well.

The most important aspect of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is that the condition is not associated with any impairment of the affected individual's consciousness. Someone with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who experiences a seizure may only complain of having 'brain fog', but that is about the extent of the patient's level of consciousness being affected. This allows the condition to stand out from other forms of epilepsy where patients have an altered mental status both during and after the seizure.

Up to 80 percent of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy may complain of generalized tonic-clonic convulsions (rhythmic muscle contractions) and these also occur on both sides of the body.

Treatment for Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy can be managed and treated by considering the use of medications together with reducing the exposure to possible risk factors that can increase the patient's risk of experiencing convulsions.

Several factors need to be considered when a doctor chooses an appropriate medication for patients who have been diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. These include the patient's sex, whether they have any other chronic conditions, if there are any preferences, and if there have been any adverse events experienced with certain medications.

There aren't any specific medications that have been approved for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy but the FDA has approved levitiracetam as an adjunct treatment for managing the condition. Divalproex has also been approved as an adjunct drug for patients with multiple seizure types, including generalized epilepsy types like juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Most patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, however, do seem to do well with valproate as a single therapy medication. If the condition is still not adequately controlled, then the above-mentioned medications may be added to the patient's treatment profile.