Epilepsy is the most common long-term brain disorder in dogs, affecting about one in 130 pets. Nearly one-third of dogs do not respond to medication, leaving them at risk of repeated seizures, emergencies, and early death.
Our research suggests epilepsy risk may be a trade-off from domestication: as dogs became more social and bold, changes in brain wiring also increased vulnerability to seizures and anxiety. To investigate, we studied over 15,000 dogs from 125 breeds, including 5,000 with epilepsy, plus 600 Labradors. We identified ADAM23 as a major risk gene for non-generalized seizures, with smaller effects on other seizure types. ADAM23 also influences movement traits and personality, linking behavior and brain disease.
We are now validating these findings, studying brain cells derived from affected dogs, and building a global epilepsy biobank to develop better ways to predict, treat, and ultimately prevent epilepsy in dogs.