New study highlights: Brain development plays a key role in KCNQ2-DEE

A new study published in eBioMedicine (The Lancet family) has taken a detailed look at how the brains of children with KCNQ2 developmental & epileptic encephalopathy (KCNQ2-DEE) grow and mature – and how this links to symptoms and development outcomes.

👉 Read it here: www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00430-X/fulltext

Using advanced brain imaging (including MRI), researchers found:

• KCNQ2-DEE affects far more than early seizures
• Children show distinct changes in brain development
• These changes correlate with the severity of developmental delays and functional impairments
• This confirms that KCNQ2-DEE is a global neurodevelopmental disorder, not just about epilepsy

Why is this important?

These findings provide a strong scientific foundation for future treatments.

By understanding how brain maturation is altered in KCNQ2-DEE, researchers can identify new therapeutic targets — beyond seizure control.

This opens the door for more precise future therapies that aim to support brain development and long-term outcomes for our children.

For our KCNQ2 community, this is an important message:
Research is increasingly recognising the full complexity of KCNQ2-DEE and the urgent need for new treatment strategies.

We will continue to advocate and raise awareness so that these insights eventually translate into real treatments for our children.

With love,
Your KCNQ2 e.V. Team