Elizabeth Gerard, MD

“If we can find a genetic answer for them, it can give closure and it can give a reason, and I think for a lot of patients that can be really helpful. Also, having a genetic diagnosis helps them connect with other individuals who may have the same genetic diagnosis.”

Many adults with epilepsy have never been able to receive a full explanation from their physicians as to 

 they are faced with their condition. This can provide them with closure about what drives their disease, as well as a number of other benefits outside of simply a better understanding of their condition.

Elizabeth Gerard, MD, associate professor of neurology, and director, Women With Epilepsy Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told 

 that this is also important from a support perspective. She detailed that a number of patients are able to join and form support communities with others who share their diagnosis, which in turn can give them a better outlook on the situation.

Additionally, advances in genetic testing have allowed for physicians to provide a number of other answers to epileptics, including informing women of the risk of passing on a genetic diagnosis to their child, as well as the risks of family members to develop similar conditions. To find out more about this process what it can help physicians bring about, 

Videos

The associate professor of neurology and director of the Women With Epilepsy Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine discussed the reasons an adult with epilepsy may seek genetic testing and what benefits it can provide.

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Considering Genetic Testing for Adult Epileptics

“Next-generation sequencing is the tool that really had been put in place several years ago that kind of revolutionized the ability to provide genetic answers both clinically and in the laboratory.”

The introduction of next-generation sequencing in epilepsy has allowed physicians to provide answers to patients with epilepsy who previously may have been left in the dark due to limited resources. Now, whole exosome sequencing, epilepsy focused panels, and microarray testing can provide clarity, depending on the patient’s phenotype.

In addition to the availability in the clinic, many of these tools are offered by commercial companies at reasonable costs for patients, and sometimes can even be covered by insurance., Elizabeth Gerard, MD, associate professor of neurology, and director, Women With Epilepsy Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told 

. And while clinical results may reveal uncertain answers, scientific testing and vetting can help improve the picture, she said.

 To find out more how genetic tools and the advances in the landscape of genetics have improved the ability to provide these answers to patients, and influence treatment programs, 

 sat with Gerard, inquiring about her experience with them.

The associate professor of neurology and director of the Women With Epilepsy Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine spoke about the evolving landscape of the use of genetic tools in epilepsy.

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Advances in Genetic Testing for Epilepsy

“A lot of these patients have had epilepsy their whole life—or they have a new diagnosis&mdash;and they want to know why. To have an answer other than, ‘Well, you’ll have to deal with this,’ can be meaningful.”

There are many reasons for patients with epilepsy to be genetically screened to determine if their epilepsy is genetic. For many patients, this can impact treatment approaches and other facets of their care. And as the field of genetics improves and interest in research and development in the field increases, it has grown in interest among adult patients.

This is particularly true for adult patients who may have had epilepsy for quite some time or those who are diagnosed later in life. As Elizabeth Gerard, MD, associate professor of neurology, and director, Women With Epilepsy Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, pointed out in a conversation with 

, there are a number of reasons these patients would ask for genetic screening.

To find out more about the reasons as to why patients might request this testing and how it can be helpful not just to pediatric patients, 

The associate professor of neurology and director of the Women With Epilepsy Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine discussed the use of genetic testing in the adult epilepsy population.

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Advantages of Genetic Testing in Adult Epileptics

“In our study, of 95 patients, we were able to give a diagnostic answer to 18 patients—that’s 19% of our adult population that we saw, specifically for genetic testing, that we were able to give an answer.”

As the field of genetics improves and interest in research and development in the field increases, the ability for medical professionals to take advantage of what it can provide has had a similar upward trajectory. One of the benefits is genetic testing, something that has grown in interest among patients.

In epilepsy, genetic testing has become an important diagnostic tool for physicians treating adult patients with epilepsy. One of those physicians is Elizabeth Gerard, MD, associate professor of neurology, and director, Women With Epilepsy Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who has an adult epilepsy center at her institution. Over the past few years, they’ve offered this sort of testing for the adult population.

To find out more about what this program has uncovered and how this type of testing is helpful for physicians and their patients, 

Author | Elizabeth Gerard, MD

Articles

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Considering Genetic Testing for Adult Epileptics

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Advances in Genetic Testing for Epilepsy

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Advantages of Genetic Testing in Adult Epileptics

Elizabeth Gerard, MD: Genetic Testing in Adults With Epilepsy