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-aninobutryic 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.
Select this link to view a list of studies
currently seeking patients.
Organizations
Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
(CURE)
505 North Lake Shore Drive
#4605
Chicago, IL 60611
CUREepi@aol.
com
http://www.CUREepilepsy.org
Tel: 312-923-9117
Fax: 312-923-9118
Epilepsy Foundation
4351 Garden City Drive
Suite 500
Landover, MD 20785-7223
postmaste
r@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.or
g
Tel: 212-677-8550
Fax: 212-677-5825
Family Caregiver Alliance
690 Market Street
Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94104
info@care
giver.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@nfca
cares.org
http://www.nfcacares.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
orph
an@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD
(6673)
Fax: 203-798-2291
International Radiosurgery Support
Association (IRSA)
P.O. Box 5186
Harrisburg, PA 17110
getinfo@irs
a.org
ht
tp://www.irsa.org
Tel: 717-260-9808
Fax: 717-260-9809
Related NINDS Publications and
Information
Seizures and Epilepsy: Hope Through
Research
Information booklet on seizures, seizure
disorders, and epilepsy compiled by the
National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Febrile Seizures
Febrile Seizures information sheet
compiled by NINDS.
Febrile Seizures Fact Sheet
Febrile seizures fact sheet compiled by
the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Convulsiones Febriles
Convulsiones febriles hoja
informativa/Spanish-language fact sheet
compiled by the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS).
Infantile Spasms
Infantile spasms (West Syndrome)
information sheet compiled by the National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS).
Curing Epilepsy: Focus on the Future
Summary of a White House-initiated
conference, "Curing Epilepsy,", March
30-31, 2000.
Patients with Seizures Sought for Studies
Lay-language descriptions of new NINDS
program announcements, requests for
applications, and clinical studies seeking
patients.
Gene Linked to Epilepsy With Auditory
Features
February 2002 news summary on a gene for
familial epilepsy with auditory features.
Epilepsy Research Web and Benchmarks
Epilepsy Research Web
DNA Microarrays and Epilepsy Research
DNA Microarrays and Epilepsy Research
Health Disparities in Epilepsy Planning
Panel Meeting
Summary of Health Disparities in Epilepsy
Planning Panel-- November 13, 2002.
Models II: Identification and
Characterization of Animal Models of Human
Therapy Resistance and Epileptogenesis
Models II: Identification and
Characterization of Animal Models of Human
Therapy Resistance and Epileptogenesis
Workshop Summary: Models of
Epileptogenesis and Epilepsy
Workshop Summary: Models for Epilepsy
& Epileptogenesis
Workshop on Antiepileptic Drug (AED)
Monotherapy Indications
A workshop attempt to reach consensus on
the best method to obtain FDA approval for
monotherapy labeling for antiepileptic
drugs (AEDs).
Molecular Analysis of Complex Genetic
Epilepsies
Summary of a workshop on molecular
analysis of complex genetic epilepsies
held January 31 - February 1, 2002.
