Epilepsy and Thyroid Hormones

Abstract

The nervous and endocrine systems are 2 important related systems. Thyroid hormones, in particular, bind to the nuclear receptors of neuronal and glial cells, which affects migration, myelination, and synaptogenesis, and contributes to the development and differentiation of the nervous system. Changes in thyroid hormone levels during the early periods of life can cause serious and permanent damage to the nervous system. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, thyroid hormones interfere with the excitatory and inhibitory neurons and are thought to alter the cerebral epileptogenic threshold. Therefore, thyroid hormones may play a role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• epileptogenesis
• thyroid hormones