title: Causes of learning disability and epilepsy: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the association between learning disability and epilepsy is well known, until relatively recently specific processes underlying this association were relatively poorly understood. However, scientific advances in molecular biology are starting to guide researchers towards descriptions of genetic and pathophysiological processes that may explain why syndromes of epilepsy and learning disability often co-exist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article will focus largely on three areas of advancing knowledge: insights gained from wider use of genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), specific insights gained from detailed study of Rett syndrome and the role of abnormalities of astrocytic function in predisposing to both epilepsy and learning disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The enormous complexity of the biological underpinnings of the co-occurrence of epilepsy and learning disability are becoming apparent. In the future it is likely that research into therapeutic approaches will include, amongst other approaches, investigations of gene structure and expression, the role of astrocytes and the stability of dendritic spines.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology