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Coverage: 2020-01-01 onwards, with up to 300 results per query from PubMed and Europe PMC and separate limits on other sources. This is a selected index, not a complete literature search.
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CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder: Research Summary
Printed from RareWays (rareways.org)
For general awareness only. Not medical advice. Discuss all care options with your healthcare team.
5 Most Recent Research Articles
- 1.
Exploring medical food supplementation as an adjunct strategy for microbiota restoration and seizure reduction in CDKL5 deficiency disorder.
Borghi Elisa et al., Epilepsia open (13 October 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42867482/
- 2.
CDKL5 deficiency impairs TBK1-mediated autophagy and clearance of neuronal protein aggregates.
Zou Zhongju et al., bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (18 September 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42779792/
- 3.
CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder
Danielle Molinari Andrade, Neurology (16 September 2026)
https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000218606
- 4.
Postnatal sensory experience and barrel cortex alterations anticipate autistic traits in a mouse model of CDKL5 deficiency disorder.
Raspanti Alessandra et al., Progress in neurobiology (1 September 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42617938/
- 5.
Nationwide Survey of Association Between Fever and Epileptic Seizure in CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder Revealed Therapeutic Implications.
Wang Siyi et al., Annals of clinical and translational neurology (26 August 2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42644218/
Clinical Trials : Australian Sites
Ask your doctor whether you or your child may be eligible for any of these trials. Each has its ID and full eligibility criteria at the link shown.
- 1.
Study of Adjunctive Ganaxolone Treatment in Children and Young Adults With CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder
NCT03572933 · Completed · Phase 3 · Marinus Pharmaceuticals
Ages 2 to 21
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03572933
Source: RareWays research directory. Data from PubMed, Europe PMC, OpenAlex, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Always verify information with your healthcare team before making any decisions about your care.
CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder
CDKL5 deficiency disorder is a rare genetic condition caused by changes in the CDKL5 gene. It usually begins with seizures in the first months of life and leads to significant delays in movement, communication and learning, often with vision and feeding difficulties. Care involves seizure medicines, therapies such as physiotherapy and speech therapy, and support for families.
This overview is general information, not an individual medical assessment. Research is selected automatically and may include mismatches. How we select and explain research.
Most Recent Research
OBJECTIVES: CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by early-onset, treatment-resistant seizures and severe neurodevelopmental impairment. Increasing evidence suggests that alterations in the gut-brain axis may contribute to disease pathophysiology, raising interest in microbiota-targeted interventions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a prebiotic-based nutritional intervention on clinical outcomes, gut microbiota composition, and fatty acid profiles in individuals with CDD. METHODS: Thirteen participants with drug-resistant epilepsy were enrolled (one male; median age, 12 years [IQR, 8.8-17.5]), and ten completed the longitudinal intervention protocol. The protocol comprised two medical-food interventions separated by washout periods: MF1 contained alpha-lactalbumin, inulin, and fructo-oligosaccharides, whereas MF2 contained the MF1 formulation supplemented with sodium butyrate. Clinical assessments, gut microbiota profiling, and fecal and systemic fatty acid measurements were performed at predefined study time points. RESULTS: Seizure response varied substantially between participants. Two subjects showed a 52% and 57% reduction in monthly seizure frequency during MF1, whereas two different participants experienced reductions greater than 90% during MF2 (94% and 100%, respectively). At the cohort level, the lowest median seizure frequency was observed at the final study time point. A progressive decrease in CDD severity scale scores was also observed over the course of the study. Intervention phases coincided with transient enrichment of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera, including Faecalibacterium, Blautia, and Dorea. Microbiota composition differed between responders and non-responders: higher seizure burden was linked to increased Veillonella, whereas lower seizure frequency corresponded to enrichment of Dialister and Gemmiger. Fecal and systemic SCFA concentrations generally decreased during intervention phases, regardless of clinical response. SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, these findings support a possible interaction between nutritional supplementation, microbial dynamics, and clinical manifestations in CDD. Larger studies will be necessary to clarify the therapeutic relevance of personalized microbiota-targeted approaches in CDD-related epilepsy. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a rare condition that causes severe developmental difficulties and seizures that are difficult to control. We studied whether two medical food interventions targeting the gut microbiota, one of which also contained sodium butyrate, could influence seizures, disease severity, gut microbiota composition, and metabolite production in people with CDD. Some participants experienced substantial reductions in seizure frequency alongside changes in gut bacteria, although responses varied considerably between individuals. These preliminary findings suggest that microbiota-targeted, non-pharmacological approaches may have potential as supportive strategies in CDD, but larger studies are needed to confirm these observations.
Common Questions
What is CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder?
CDKL5 deficiency disorder is a rare genetic condition caused by changes in the CDKL5 gene. It usually begins with seizures in the first months of life and leads to significant delays in movement, communication and learning, often with vision and feeding difficulties. Care involves seizure medicines, therapies such as physiotherapy and speech therapy, and support for families.
How many clinical trials are available for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder?
RareWays currently indexes 9 clinical trials for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. These counts cover indexed trials across countries, not just your country. An Australian site does not necessarily mean that site is recruiting. Check locations, eligibility and current availability with the study team.
Where does the research data for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder come from?
RareWays aggregates research from PubMed, Europe PMC, OpenAlex, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Data is refreshed automatically every day. All articles and trials link directly to their original sources.
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