Leptin is a hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, including appetite and metabolism.
“Leptin plays a role in modulating structure and synaptic communication in brain. Some studies on animal models reported that chronic leptin deficiency in mice raise susceptibility to seizure and leptin administeringin rodent seizure models suppresses seizures via direct effects on glutamate neurotransmission. So, leptin receptor activation is suggested as a novel targets for treatment of epilepsy in animal. However, another recently published study on animal model indicateddose-related proconvulsant activity of leptin. Leptin resistance and increased blood level of leptin is reported in epilepsy in human.
Given that, leptin level in autism is higher than controls. Also, long-term plasma leptin levels in Rett syndrome is reported. It is worth conducting studies investigating possible difference between the group of ASD with epilepsy and the group of ASD without epilepsy regarding leptin level and its receptor resistance. Probably, leptin may be a link between autism and epilepsy that provides an avenue for novel or better management of autistic children with epilepsy. For example, Ketogenic diets which are effective for epilepsy management increase leptin level in Young rodents.”
Reference
Ghanizaeh A. Leptin as a new approach for treatment for autism and epilepsy, a hypothesis with clinical implications. Brain Dev 2011; 33 (1): 92; author reply 92-3. Epub 2010 Sep 6.
