Epilepsy

Epilepsy Information

 

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity - from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development - can lead to seizures. Epilepsy may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or some combination of these factors. Having a seizure does not necessarily mean that a person has epilepsy. Only when a person has had two or more seizures is he or she considered to have epilepsy. EEGs and brain scans are common diagnostic test for epilepsy.

Is there any treatment?
 

Once epilepsy is diagnosed, it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible. For about 80 percent of those diagnosed with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with modern medicines and surgical techniques. Some antiepiletic drugs can interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. In 1997, the FDA approved the vagus nerve stimulator for use in people with seizures that are not well-controlled by medication.

 

What is the prognosis?
 

Most people with epilepsy lead outwardly normal lives. While epilepsy cannot currently be cured, for some people it does eventually go away. Most seizures do not cause brain damage. It is not uncommon for people with epilepsy, especially children, to develop behavioral and emotional problems, sometimes the consequence of embarrassment and frustration or bullying, teasing, or avoidance in school and other social setting. For many people with epilepsy, the risk of seizures restricts their independence (some states refuse drivers licenses to people with epilepsy) and recreational activities. People with epilepsy are at special risk for two life-threatening conditions: status epilepticus and sudden unexplained death. Most women with epilepsy can become pregnant, but they should discuss their epilepsy and the medications they are taking with their doctors. Women with epilepsy have a 90 percent or better chance of having a normal, healthy baby.

 

What research is being done?
 

Scientists are studying potential antiepileptic drugs with goal of enhancing treatment for epilepsy. Scientists continue to study how neurotransmitters interact with brain cells to control nerve firing and how non-neuronal cells in the brain contribute to seizures. One of the most-studied neurotransmitters is GABA, or gamma-aminobutryic acid. Researchers are working to identify genes that may influence epilepsy. This information may allow doctors to prevent epilepsy or to predict which treatments will be most beneficial. Doctors are now experimenting with several new types of therapies for epilepsy, including transplanting fetal pig neurons into the brains of patients to learn whether cell transplants can help control seizures, transplanting stem cells, and using a device that could predict seizures up to 3 minutes before they begin. Researchers are continually improving MRI and other brain scans. Studies have show that in some case, children may experience fewer seizures if they maintain a strict diet - called the ketogenic diet - rich in fats and low in carbohydrates.

Organizations

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) 730 N. Franklin Suite 404 Chicago, IL   60610 info@CUREepilepsy.org http://www.CUREepilepsy.org Tel: 312-255-1801 Fax: 312-255-1809	Epilepsy Foundation 8301 Professional Place Landover, MD   20785-7223 postmaster@efa.org http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org Tel: 301-459-3700 800-EFA-1000 (332-1000) Fax: 301-577-2684
Epilepsy Institute 257 Park Avenue South New York, NY   10010 website@epilepsyinstitute.org http://www.epilepsyinstitute.org Tel: 212-677-8550 Fax: 212-677-5825	Parents Against Childhood Epilepsy (PACE) 7 East 85th Street Suite A3 New York, NY   10028 pacenyemail@aol.com http://www.paceusa.org Tel: 212-665-PACE (7223) Fax: 212-327-3075
Family Caregiver Alliance/ National Center on Caregiving 180 Montgomery Street Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA   94104 info@caregiver.org http://www.caregiver.org Tel: 415-434-3388 800-445-8106 Fax: 415-434-3508	National Council on Patient Information and Education 4915 St. Elmo Avenue Suite 505 Bethesda, MD   20814-6082 ncpie@ncpie.info http://www.talkaboutrx.org Tel: 301-656-8565 Fax: 301-656-4464
National Family Caregivers Association 10400 Connecticut Avenue Suite 500 Kensington, MD   20895-3944 info@thefamilycaregiver.org http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org Tel: 301-942-6430 800-896-3650 Fax: 301-942-2302	National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 1968 (55 Kenosia Avenue) Danbury, CT   06813-1968 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) Fax: 203-798-2291
IRSA (International RadioSurgery Association) P.O. Box 5186 Harrisburg, PA   17110 office@irsa.org http://www.irsa.org Tel: 717-260-9808 Fax: 717-260-9809	Charlie Foundation to Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy 1223 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #815 Santa Monica, CA   90403 ketoman@aol.com http://www.charliefoundation.org Tel: 800-FOR-KETO (367-5386) 310-395-6751 Fax: 310-393-1978
Epilepsy Therapy Development Project 11921 Freedom Drive Suite 730 Reston, VA   20190 http://www.epilepsytdp.org Tel: 703-437-4250 Fax: 703-437-4288	Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry MGH East, CNY-149, 10th Floor 149 13th Street Charlestown, MA   02129-2000 ebaldwin@partners.org http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org Tel: 888-AED-AED4 (233-2334) Fax: 617-724-8307

 

Publicaciones en Español
 

• Crisis Epilépticas
  Información sobre epilepsia /Spanish-language information on seizures and epilepsy.
   

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Institutes of Health
Brain Resources and Information Network

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