Causes

The cause of Landau Kleffner syndrome is still largely unknown, but there are several factors that could play a role.

​

A possible cause could be overactivity of the body's own immune system, this is called an autoimmune condition. This is where the overactivity of one's own immune system is directed against one's own body. This could explain LKS's complaints.

Sometimes the cause of Landau-Kleffner syndrome can be found in an error in the DNA. For example, an abnormality in the GRIN2A gene is more often found in children with LKS. This gene is located on chromosome 16 (on the short (p) arm of position 13.2 (6p13.2)). This error in the DNA could explain why the brain works differently than usual. And it probably explains LKS's complaints.

There is also a suspicion that the cause of LKS can be found in the development of the brain. Major changes occur in the brain as children grow. In young children, there are still many connections between all brain cells in the brain. New connections are constantly being created and other connections are disappearing, causing the brain to work better and better. During the growth and development of the brain, something sometimes goes wrong. Too many connections then remain. It is not known why this happens. LKS then transmits the epileptic activity via all these connections.

But unfortunately the cause of Landau-Kleffner syndrome is often unknown. That is why more research is still needed. One of the goals of the "From donkey to wall" foundation is to contribute to this through financial resources and in other ways.

​