GWAS meta-analysis of over 29,000 people with epilepsy identifies 26 risk loci and subtype-specific genetic architecture

International League Against Epilepsy Consortium on Complex Epilepsies

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Epilepsy is a highly heritable disorder affecting over 50 million people worldwide, of which about one-third are resistant to current treatments. Here we report a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study including 29,944 cases, stratified into three broad categories and seven subtypes of epilepsy, and 52,538 controls. We identify 26 genome-wide significant loci, 19 of which are specific to genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE). We implicate 29 likely causal genes underlying these 26 loci. SNP-based heritability analyses show that common variants explain between 39.6% and 90% of genetic risk for GGE and its subtypes. Subtype analysis revealed markedly different genetic architectures between focal and generalized epilepsies. Gene-set analyses of GGE signals implicate synaptic processes in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the brain. Prioritized candidate genes overlap with monogenic epilepsy genes and with targets of current antiseizure medications. Finally, we leverage our results to identify alternate drugs with predicted efficacy if repurposed for epilepsy treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1471-1482
Number of pages12
JournalNature Genetics
Volume55
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 09 2023

Bibliographical note

© 2023. The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Epilepsy/genetics
  • Brain
  • Neurons

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