Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes repeated seizures due to abnormal nerve activity.
In about half of cases, the cause is unknown.
For others, epilepsy can be linked to genetic factors, strokes,tumors, or developmental disorders.
Illustration by Verywell
Understanding the cause can help guide treatment, but many people manage epilepsy even without knowing the exact reason.
What Is Epilepsy?
This can affect movement, awareness, behavior, or sensations.
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, affecting millions of people worldwide.
It can develop at any age and occurs in people of all backgrounds.
While some cases have a known cause, many do not.
A person is diagnosed with epilepsy after having at least two unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart.
With the right care, most individuals with epilepsy can lead full, active lives.
What Is a Seizure?
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain.
During a seizure, the brain’s signals misfire all at once, briefly disrupting how it works.
This can affect awareness,movement, emotions, or behavior for a short time.
Seizures can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
Some seizures stay in one area, while others spread across the brain.
Causes
Epilepsy can develop in anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background.
Anything that disrupts normal nerve cell activity can lead to seizures.
Genetics
Genetics can play a big role in epilepsy, especially when it runs in families.
Some people inherit epilepsy, while others develop it due to random gene changes (called mutations).
Some people with a family history never develop it, while others with no known genetic link still do.
Scientists are still studying how different genes may contribute to the condition.
When seizures begin more than a week after a TBI, its called post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE).
These changes may be present at birth or result from injury, stroke, infection, or tumors.
This is a major cause of epilepsy worldwide, especially in low-resource areas.
Seizures are often one of many symptoms.
Developmental disorders linked to epilepsy include:
The risk of seizures depends on the condition.
Some disorders change the brains structure, while others affect how brain cells work.
Treating the main condition may help control seizures.
They may directly affect the brain, cause withdrawal-related seizures, or lead to long-term brain damage.
Avoiding these substances helps keep epilepsy under control.
Unknown Causes
In many cases, the cause of epilepsy is unknown.
Idiopathic epilepsy often runs in families, suggesting a genetic link, but no single gene causes it.
Instead, multiple genes may affect how the brain controls electrical activity.
Unlike epilepsy from injury or disease, it usually appears in childhood or adolescence without a clear trigger.
New research inbrain imagingand genetics is helping identify causes of unexplained epilepsy.
But even without a known cause, treatment can still control seizures and improve quality of life.
What Causes Non-Epileptic Seizures?
Non-epileptic seizures(NES) look like epileptic seizures but aren’t triggered by abnormal brain activity.
Instead, they result from psychological stress or physical conditions.
Symptoms can include convulsions, jerking, stiffening, and falling.
If testing shows no unusual brain activity, a healthcare provider may diagnose NES.
There are two main types of focal seizures:
Focal seizures are often barely noticeable.
However, the effects depend on which part of the brain is involved and how far the seizure spreads.
They vary in intensitysome cause brief lapses in awareness, while others result in full-body convulsions.
Seizures can be physically exhausting, often leaving the person feeling tired and confused afterward.
Common Triggers
Certain circumstances or situations may increase the likelihood of having a seizure.
These are known as triggers, and identifying them can help manage and prevent seizures.
Your primary care provider can evaluate your symptoms and refer you to a neurologist if needed.
A specialist can check your risk of future seizures and decide if treatment is necessary.
A neurologist can help assess your risk and recommend the right next steps.
Finding the right medicine may take time, and some people need a combination of medications.
Surgerymay be an option if seizures come from one specific area of the brain.
Removing that area can stop or reduce seizures.
It is usually prescribed for children with hard-to-control seizures and must be monitored by a healthcare provider and dietitian.
Never stop taking your medicine suddenly, as it can trigger severe seizures.
Can People With Epilepsy Live a Normal Life?
Most people with epilepsy can live a normal life with the right treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
Medications, surgery, or other therapies help control seizures for many.
Avoiding triggers, managing stress, and following a healthcare providers guidance can improve quality of life.
Summary
Epilepsy causes repeated seizures, which happen when the brain’s electrical activity is malfunctioning normally.
Seizures can affect one part of the brain (focal) or both sides (generalized).
Healthcare providers use tests like an EEG, MRI, and PET scan to find out whats causing them.
Treatment includes seizure medicine, surgery, nerve stimulation devices, and special diets.
Many people can manage their seizures with the right care, but regular checkups are important.
Epilepsy Foundation.What are the causes of epilepsy?
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Epilepsy and seizures.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Epilepsy basics.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Types of seizures.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dravet syndrome.
Nemours KidsHealth.Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Cincinnati Children’s.Epilepsy in children.
NYU Langone Health.Types of epilepsy & seizure disorders in children.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Autism Caring for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Practical Resource Toolkit for Clinicians.3rd ed.
American Academy of Pediatrics; 2019.Seizures and Epilepsy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Rett syndrome.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Angelman syndrome.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.FOXG1 syndrome.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of seizures.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Evaluation of a first-time seizure.
University of Utah Health.What to do during and after a seizure.
Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Diagnosing seizures and epilepsy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of epilepsy.
Epilepsy Foundation.What is epilepsy?
International League Against Epilepsy.Gene abnormalities.
