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Living with Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyria

A rare inherited brain condition with delayed development, learning difficulty, and seizures.

Understanding Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyria

Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyria is a brain condition in which the front and side surfaces of the brain have fewer, broader ridges than usual.

The head size is normal. It begins in the newborn period or infancy. Children can have developmental delay, moderate intellectual disability, and seizures. Muscle tone and reflexes are normal or slightly reduced. Wide-set eyes are common.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Fewer, broader ridges in the brain (pachygyria)
  • Global developmental delay
  • Delayed speech and language
  • Seizures
  • Low muscle tone
  • Wide-set eyes

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
Expert care
Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Epilepsy Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Would genetic testing help find the cause?
How can seizures be monitored and managed?
Which therapies can support speech and development?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

Changes in genes (also called variants) cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of a gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurological

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyriaGARD ID 21489 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyria.

Explore the Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyria blog

Explore research for Autosomal recessive frontotemporal pachygyria

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  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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