Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
10:02

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with benign epilepsy and their siblings

Odeya Bennett-Back1, Amit Keren, Nathanel Zelnik

  • 1Child Neurology and Development Center, Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.

Pediatric Neurology
|February 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with benign epilepsy have a significantly higher prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to their siblings. This suggests a potential link between epilepsy and ADHD, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Epilepsy Research

Background:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Benign epilepsy is a common form of childhood epilepsy.
  • The co-occurrence of ADHD and epilepsy is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ADHD in children with benign epilepsy.
  • To compare ADHD prevalence in children with benign epilepsy to their unaffected siblings.
  • To explore potential correlations between epilepsy severity and ADHD symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study design.
  • Inclusion of 40 children diagnosed with benign epilepsy and a control group of 12 siblings.
  • Diagnostic assessment for ADHD using established criteria.
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis for epileptiform features.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of ADHD (70%) was observed in children with benign epilepsy, compared to 16.7% in siblings (P<0.03).
  • The inattentive subtype of ADHD was most common (19/28 cases).
  • Increased seizure resistance and more epileptiform EEG features correlated with higher ADHD symptom burden.

Conclusions:

  • Children with benign epilepsy exhibit a significantly higher risk of developing ADHD.
  • Epilepsy characteristics, including seizure resistance and EEG findings, may influence ADHD development.
  • Further large-scale research is needed to confirm these associations and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...