Memantine May Improve Behavior and Seizures in GRIN Disorders

Source: Epilepsia

Summary

Researchers studied the effects of a medication called memantine on 34 individuals with specific genetic changes known as GRIN gain-of-function variants. These variants affect how certain receptors in the brain work, which can lead to issues like seizures and developmental delays. The study included both unpublished cases and previously reported ones, and the researchers aimed to understand how well memantine worked for these individuals compared to those with different types of GRIN variants.

The key findings showed that 74% of individuals with gain-of-function variants experienced improvements after taking memantine. Specifically, many reported better behavior, development, and a decrease in seizure frequency. In contrast, those with loss-of-function variants or variants with unclear effects saw much less benefit from the treatment. Interestingly, the study also found that the closer a genetic change was to the area where memantine works, the better the treatment response tended to be.

This research is important because it highlights how understanding the specific type of genetic change can help doctors decide if memantine might be a good treatment option. However, the study has limitations, such as being based on past cases rather than a controlled trial, which means more research is needed to confirm these findings and explore how to best use memantine for different patients.

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