GENE GUIDE

MED13-Related Syndrome

This guide is not meant to take the place of medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about your genetic results and health care choices. This Gene Guide was last updated in 2024. As new information comes to light with new research we will update this page. You may find it helpful to share this guide with friends and family members or doctors and teachers of the person who has MED13-Related Syndrome.
a doctor sees a patient

MED13-related syndrome is also called intellectual developmental disorder, autosomal dominant 61. For this webpage, we will be using the name MED13-related syndrome to encompass the wide range of variants observed in the people identified.

MED13-related syndrome happens when there are changes in the MED13 gene. These changes can keep the gene from working as it should.

Key Role

The MED13 gene plays a key role in the development of the brain. 

Symptoms

Because the MED13 gene is important for brain activity, many people who have MED13-related syndrome have: 

  • Developmental delay 
  • Language issues, including speech impairment and problems with understanding 
  • Autism spectrum disorder 
  • Walking issues 
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 
  • Sideways curvature of the spine, also called scoliosis

MED13-related syndrome is a genetic condition, which means that it is caused by variants in genes. Our genes contain the instructions, or code, that tell our cells how to grow, develop, and work. Every child gets two copies of the MED13 gene: one copy from their mother’s egg, and one copy from their father’s sperm. In most cases, parents pass on exact copies of the gene to their child. But the process of creating the egg or sperm is not perfect. A change in the genetic code can lead to physical issues, developmental issues, or both. 

Sometimes a spontaneous variant happens in the sperm, egg or after fertilization. When a brand new genetic variant happens in the genetic code is called a ‘de novo’ genetic variant. The child is usually the first in the family to have the genetic variant.

De novo variants can take place in any gene. We all have some de novo variants, most of which don’t affect our health. But because MED13 plays a key role in development, de novo variants in this gene can have a meaningful effect. 

Research shows that MED13-related syndrome is often the result of a de novo variant in MED13. Many parents who have had their genes tested do not have the MED13 genetic variant found in their child who has the syndrome. In some cases, MED13-related syndrome happens because the genetic variant was passed down from a parent.

Autosomal dominant conditions

MED13-related syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic condition. This means that when a person has the one damaging variant in MED13 they will likely have symptoms of MED13-related syndrome. For someone with an autosomal dominant genetic syndrome, every time they have a child there is a 50 percent chance they pass on the same genetic variant and a 50 percent chance they do not pass on the same genetic variant.

Autosomal Dominant Genetic Syndrome

GENE / gene
GENE / gene
Genetic variant that happens in sperm or egg, or after fertilization
GENE / gene
Child with de novo genetic variant
gene / gene
Non-carrier child
gene / gene
Non-carrier child

Why does my child have a change in the MED13 gene?

No parent causes their child’s MED13-related syndrome. We know this because no parent has any control over the gene changes that they do or do not pass on to their children. Please keep in mind that nothing a parent does before or during the pregnancy causes this to happen. The gene change takes place on its own and cannot be predicted or stopped.

Each family is different. A geneticist or genetic counselor can give you advice on the chance that this will happen again in your family.

The risk of having another child who has MED13-related syndrome depends on the genes of both biological parents. 

  • If neither biological parent has the same genetic variant found in their child, the chance of having another child who has the syndrome is on average 1 percent. This 1 percent chance is higher than the chance of the general population. The increase in risk is due to the very unlikely chance that more of the mother’s egg cells or the father’s sperm cells carry the same genetic variant. 
  • If one biological parent has the same genetic variant found in their child, the chance of having another child who has the syndrome is 50 percent. 

For a symptom-free brother or sister of someone who has MED13-related syndrome, the sibling’s risk of having a child who has MED13-related syndrome depends on the sibling’s genes and their parents’ genes. 

  • If neither parent has the same genetic variant causing MED13-related syndrome, the symptom-free sibling has a nearly 0 percent chance of having a child who would inherit MED13-related syndrome. 

As of 2024, over 51 people with MED13-related syndrome have been identified in a medical clinic. 

People who have MED13-related syndrome may look different. Appearance can vary and can include some but not all of these features: 

  • Wide-set eyes 
  • Broad, high nasal bridge and full nasal tip 
  • Wide mouth with thin upper lip

Scientists and doctors have only just begun to study MED13-related syndrome. At this point, there are no medicines designed to treat the syndrome. A genetic diagnosis can help people decide on the best way to track the condition and manage therapies. Doctors can refer people to specialists for:

  • Physical exams and brain studies
  • Genetics consults
  • Development and behavior studies
  • Other issues, as needed

A developmental pediatrician, neurologist, or psychologist can follow progress over time and can help:

  • Suggest the right therapies. This can include physical, occupational, speech, or behavioral therapy.
  • Guide individualized education plans (IEPs).

Specialists advise that therapies for MED13-related syndrome should begin as early as possible, ideally before a child begins school.

If seizures happen, consult a neurologist. There are many types of seizures, and not all types are easy to spot. To learn more, you can refer to resources such as the Epilepsy Foundation’s website: epilepsy.com/…t-is-epilepsy/seizure-types

This section includes a summary of information from major published articles. It highlights how many people have different symptoms. To learn more about the articles, see the Sources and references section of this guide.

A range of MED13 genetic variants are possible for people with MED13-related syndrome, including missense, frameshift, and nonsense variants. To date, no links have been found between the medical features that people have and their specific genetic variant. 

Some MED13 variants are inherited from a parent. The information below summarizes research on the child or dependent with a MED13 variant. 

Speech and learning  

Most people with MED13-related syndrome had developmental delay or intellectual disability, and few had borderline IQ (below average but not intellectually disabled). More than one-half of people had a speech disorder. 

  • 16 out of 22 people had developmental delay or intellectual disability (73 percent) 
  • 3 out of 22 people had borderline IQ (14 percent)
  • 13 out of 22 people had a speech disorder (59 percent)
73%
16 out of 22 people had developmental delay or intellectual disability.
14%
3 out of 22 people had borderline IQ.
59%
13 out of 22 people had a speech disorder.

Behavior 

People with MED13-related syndrome had behavioral issues, including autism, hyperactivity, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

  • 9 out of 22 people had autism (41 percent) 
  • 4 out of 22 people had hyperactivity (18 percent) 

Brain 

Some people with MED13-related syndrome had seizures, low muscle tone (hypotonia), and brain changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI findings were usually minor and non-specific. 

  • 3 out of 22 people had seizures (14 percent)
  • 4 out of 13 people had brain changes seen on MRI (31 percent)
Human head showing brain outline

Other medical features 

Various medical issues might be linked to MED13-related syndrome, including vision issues, hearing issues, heart defects, and changes in the bones and joints.

Where can I find support and resources?

Simons Searchlight

Simons Searchlight is an online international research program, building an ever growing natural history database, biorepository, and resource network of over 175 rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. By joining their community and sharing your experiences, you contribute to a growing database used by scientists worldwide to advance the understanding of your genetic condition. Through online surveys and optional blood sample collection, they gather valuable information to improve lives and drive scientific progress. Families like yours are the key to making meaningful progress. To register for Simons Searchlight, go to the Simons Searchlight website at www.simonssearchlight.org and click “Join Us.”

Sources and References

The content in this guide comes from published studies about MED13-related syndrome.

  • Pantalone, G., Mancardi, M. M., Rossi, A., Romanelli, R., Marasco, E., & Carla, M. (2024). A de novo frameshift variant in MED13 gene in a patient with autism spectrum disorder and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities mimicking tuberous sclerosis. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 194(8), e63611. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38528425/
  • Rivera, M. D., Aponte, S. N., Rivera, F., Arciniegas, N. J., & Carlo, S. (2024). MED13 gene mutation related to autism spectrum disorder: A case report. Cureus, 16(5), e59904. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38854223/

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