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Living with Familial partial epilepsy

A form of partial (focal) epilepsy that is caused by an inherited change in a person's genes.

Understanding Familial partial epilepsy

Familial partial epilepsy is partial epilepsy caused by an inherited change in a person's genome.

Partial epilepsy is epilepsy in which seizures start in one part of the brain. GARD doesn't give more detail about this condition yet.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet.

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
What kind of seizures do I have, and where do they start?
Is genetic testing useful for my epilepsy?
Should my relatives see a neurologist?

Quick facts

Changes in genes cause it. GARD doesn't name a gene or describe how it is inherited.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: familial focal epilepsy; hereditary partial epilepsy

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Familial partial epilepsyGARD ID 2173 · 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 Familial partial epilepsy.

Explore the Familial partial epilepsy blog

Explore research for Familial partial epilepsy

Explore actively recruiting Familial partial epilepsy studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Familial partial epilepsy with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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