Patient's question:
From birth, my brother-in-law has epilepsy under control. His wife is afraid that she might inherit epilepsy from the previous generation. How does epilepsy be inherited from one generation to the next?Doctor's answer:
Epilepsy has a certain genetic component, but the specific proportion of intergenerational inheritance in this case cannot be fully confirmed. In very rare cases, epilepsy may have irregular intergenerational inheritance, while for the majority, it does not affect size and is primarily related to the cause. The closer the blood relationship, the higher the incidence. If both parents have epilepsy, or if a child has epilepsy, it is advisable for direct relatives to avoid decisions involving individuals who have had epilepsy or have a family history of the condition. The farther the blood relationship, the better.