What causes Alpers disease?

What causes Alpers disease?

A change (mutation) in a gene (POLG1) causes Alpers disease. Children inherit these gene mutations from both of their parents. Defective POLG1 genes that come from both parents cause Alpers disease.

Alpers disease is a type of mitochondrial disease. The defective genes cause mitochondrial DNA to not work as well. Alpers disease affects your brain, liver and muscles the most since these organs need a large amount of mitochondrial energy to function.

Some researchers think that environmental factors, such as a virus, may cause people who have inherited the defective genes to develop the disease.