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Knowledge base

Understanding SCN2A and developmental epileptic encephalopathies.

Whether you have just received a diagnosis or have been living with SCN2A for years, this section explains the condition, the science, the genetics, the seizure types, and what it means for your family, in plain language, backed by current evidence.

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SCN2A

SCN2A is a gene that plays a critical role in how the brain develops and functions. When SCN2A is altered, through a variant that makes its protein overactive or underactive, it can cause a range of serious neurological conditions, including epilepsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, movement disorders, and autism. Severity and presentation vary widely depending on the type of variant.

DEE

SCN2A-related disorders are one of the leading known genetic causes of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, DEE for short. DEE describes a group of conditions where seizure activity and the underlying brain difference both contribute to developmental challenges.

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Information sheets, free, multilingual.

SCN2A, DEE, genetics, treatment, genetic testing, gene therapy, available to download free, including translations in Korean, Chinese, Hindi, and Japanese.

Just received a diagnosis?

You do not have to make sense of it all at once.

We have a guide specifically for families at the start of this journey. Walk through the first four weeks one step at a time.