Autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy: Disorders with a shared biology

- ASD and various forms of epilepsy commonly co-occur.
- A number of new genetic discoveries suggest shared biology for both disorders.
- Several screening and diagnostic tools are available for clinicians.

There is an increasing recognition of clinical overlap in patients presenting with epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a great deal of new information regarding the genetic causes of both disorders is available. Several biological pathways appear to be involved in both disease processes, including gene transcription regulation, cellular growth, synaptic channel function, and maintenance of synaptic structure. We review several genetic disorders where ASD and epilepsy frequently co-occur, and we discuss the screening tools available for practicing neurologists and epileptologists to help determine which patients should be referred for formal ASD diagnostic evaluation. Finally, we make recommendations regarding the workflow of genetic diagnostic testing available for children with both ASD and epilepsy.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Autism and Epilepsy”.