The Cross Talk between Underlying Mechanisms of Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy May Provide New Insights for More Efficient Therapies

Despite the significant differences in pathological background of neurodegenerative diseases, epileptic seizures are a comorbidity in many disorders such as Huntington disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Regarding the last one, specifically, it has been shown that the risk of developing epilepsy is three to six times higher in patients with MS compared to the general population. In this context, understanding the pathological processes underlying this connection will allow for the targeting of the common and shared pathological pathways involved in both conditions, which may provide a new avenue in the management of neurological disorders. This review provides an outlook of what is known so far about the bidirectional association between epilepsy and MS.

Automated summary

Despite significant differences in the pathological background of neurodegenerative diseases, epileptic seizures are a common comorbidity in disorders like HD, AD, and MS. Patients with MS have a three to six times higher risk of developing epilepsy compared to the general population. Understanding the pathological processes linking epilepsy and MS may unveil new avenues in managing neurological disorders.