What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a disease of the nervous system that can result in seizures. Epilepsy results when the cells of the brain are acting abnormally. Seizures happen when the electrical activity of the brain is not working correctly, they can cause convulsions, shaking uncontrollably, but not all seizures result in convulsions. There is a five to ten percent chance in the population that someone will have a seizure in their life.

Before thorough medical research on epilepsy, it was thought to be a demonic entity causing the sudden movements. With scientific advancements, epilepsy can be characterized as a condition that affects the nervous system through a series of seizures. Within the brain presents abnormalities that cause convulsions throughout the body. Epilepsy can be broken down into two types and further specified by key symptoms the individual faces during an epileptic episode. There is no single cause for epilepsy; many factors such as genetics and traumatic injuries can trigger seizures, which can develop into a type of epilepsy syndrome. This condition cannot be cured, but can be treated through a series of medications after diagnosing the specific type of epilepsy. Individuals diagnosed with epilepsy will more than likely live with the condition throughout their entire life, leading them to change or add to their lifestyle to accommodate this condition. Charitable organization have benefited the epileptic community by raising awareness and conducting studies to find better treatments.

The topic to be researched is epilepsy. Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder where the brain is prone to seizures. Seizures are caused by neurones in the brain receiving too much electrical activity. Recurring seizures are the only visible symptom of epilepsy. Epilepsy has 2 main types of seizures – generalised and partial. The type of seizure will depend on the brain area affected. Epilepsy is most commonly diagnosed during childhood – under the age of 15, and also during later stages of life – over the age of 65. Genetics can also play a part in some types of epilepsy, such as Lafora Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. As epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system it can affect the body in different

Epilepsy is a general term for any brain disorder that causes unpredictable regular seizures. These seizures as caused by a disturbance in the brain’s electrical activity. It is considered a chronic neurological disorder, the fourth most common in the world. There were around 3.4 million people reported as having epilepsy in the United States in 2015 with 470,000 of those being children (CDC, 2017). This is about 1.2% of the population in the United States (CDC, 2017). There are about 50 million people who experience epilepsy globally (WHO, 2017). In the District of Columbia there are about 7,500 cases of active epilepsy. It’s estimated that 2.4 million people per year are diagnosed with epilepsy globally (WHO, 2017).

This paper will focus on the history of epilepsy, the causes of the disease specifically its genetic link and the evolution of drug therapies. My interest in this topic stems from working with people with developmental disabilities in a group home setting, many of whom suffer from seizure disorders. I understand that the disease carries a stigma and many people still hide that they have the condition which why it’s important to educate people about it.

Epilepsy occurs as a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Brain cells communicate by sending electrical signals in an orderly pattern. In epilepsy, these electrical signals become abnormal, giving rise to an "electrical storm" that produces seizures. These storms may be within a specific part of the brain or may be generalized, depending on the type of epilepsy.

Epilepsy has been defined conceptually by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in 2005 as “A disorder of the brain characterised by enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures, and by the neurobiologic, cognitive psychological and social consequences of this condition.” It requires that at least one epileptic seizure occurs to define epilepsy. In addition to the conceptual definition, ILAE has updated its practical definition in 2014. Any of the three conditions described defines epilepsy. The three conditions are: “1) At least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring >24 hours apart; 2) One unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which nerve cell activity is disturbed by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, causing seizures. While researching the neurological disorder of Epilepsy, I found many websites and articles about the struggle it provides for all who have been diagnosed. Epilepsy affects every aspect of a person’s daily life. From behavior and emotions to work and education, Epilepsy provides a series of obstacles a person has to go through. These difficulties are drastically increased when an adolescent is diagnosed. Adolescents face many challenges when dealing with Epilepsy during a crucial time of body development.

Epilepsy, also called seizure disorder, chronic brain disorder that briefly interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain to cause seizures, characterized by a variety of symptoms including uncontrolled movements of the body, disorientation or confusion, sudden fear, or loss of consciousness. Epilepsy may result from a head injury, stroke, brain tumor, lead poisoning, genetic conditions, or severe infections like meningitis or encephalitis. In over 70 percent of cases no cause for epilepsy were identified. About 1 percent of the world population, or over 2 million people, are diagnosed with epilepsy.

Principally, epileptic seizures are the result of excessive and unusual activity in the cerebral cortex. Some individual can have a seizure without actually being effected by epilepsy., but epilepsy is characterized by having an excessive amount of seizures. Symptomatic Epilepsy is the name given to the type of epilepsy when it’s cause or source is known. Any sort of brain damage from oxygen deprivation during birth can result in the child being epileptic. Head injuries during one’s lifetime can also cause an individual to have ongoing seizures. Also the disease meningitis, which is the inflammation of the meninges in the brain and spinal cord, can induce epileptic symptoms. Furthermore, some individuals suffering from the differing idiopathic epilepsy usually have no visible abnormalities within their brain and develop the disorder based on their genetics. In addition, those suffering from epilepsy can have seizures triggered by flashing lights, loud noises, and even by getting touched. Grand mal seizures are the most common type to be triggered by such stimuli. The triggers can range from flashing pictures on the computer or television to strobe lights. Some other conditions that also make individuals more susceptible to seizures include, sleep deprivation, stress, and drug or alcohol

Epilepsy is a neurological infirmity that involves repeated, involuntary seizure activity [1]. The seizures are produced by the sudden burst of hyperactivity in the brain, causing strange sensations, body stiffening, loss of memory or behaviour, jerking of arms and legs etc. More than 2% of the population are affected by epilepsy. The seizure symptoms may differ from one person to another and can be triggered by various factors which include brain injury or brain tumour, alcohol or drug effects, genetic disorders and infections. Quick diagnosis and early treatment is essential to avoid any dangerous and life threatening situations [2].

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system and may also be referred to as seizure disorder. A person may be diagnosed with epilepsy or seizure disorder after having two or more seizures with no related medical condition (epilepsy.com, 2014). According to Dr. Dimitri P. Agamanolis, seizures arise from a neurotransmitter dysfunction causing interference between the electrical activity and the brain. Approximately 25% of seizures are a result of genetic inherited abnormalities. Another 25% of documented seizures arise from structural lesions including; brain tumors, brain trauma, infections and perinatal brain lesions. All of these presentations stem from environmental influences and not congenital in nature.

Epilepsy is a disease manifested by seizure as the main symptom, this disease is only diagnosed with the occurrence of at least two unprovoked seizure.

Epilepsy a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures. A seizure is a disturbance of movement, sensation, behavior, and/or consciousness caused my abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. It is a disorder that can happen to anyone at any age. It is more common in men than women however it is by a small amount.

Epilepsy is neurological disorder that affects approximately 20,000 to 28,000 people in New Zealand. It involves sudden recurrent episodes of some type of sensory disturbance most commonly a charge ‘surge’ of electrical impulse through the neurons causing loss of consciousness, convulsions often called seizures. There are many different types of seizures depending on the location and severity of the fault in the brain. Epilepsy can develop in any person at any age however is more common to develop in those people who have a history of seizures in their family, young children and older people above the age of 60. Each year around the world approximately 48 out of every 100,000 people will