Epilepsy

Epilepsy in Adults

 

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures (convulsions) over time.

 

Seizures are episodes of abnormal brain activity that cause changes in attention or behavior. The epilepsy research institute CURE reports that 1 in 26 Americans develop epilepsy in their lifetime.

 

Epilepsy may be due to a medical condition or an injury that affects the brain, or the cause could be idiopathic (of unknown origin). In this Q&A, Dr Fried answers some of your most common questions about epilepsy.

 

Common causes of epilepsy

There are many causes of epilepsy, and each individual should be extensively tested to determine the proper diagnosis.

 

Some common reasons why epilepsy occurs in adults includes:

  • Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • Dementia
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Infections, including brain abscess, meningitis, and encephalitis
  • Brain problems that are present at birth (congenital brain defect)
  • Brain injury that occurs during or near birth
  • Brain tumor
  • Abnormal blood vessels in the brain

 

Talk to one of our experts about your symptoms today.

 

Identifying Symptoms and Outcomes

Researchers have improved ways for epilepsy patients to receive crucial advance understanding of their chances to improve their symptoms through surgery.

 

This is due to a far more accurate method of determining precisely what portions of the brain suffer from the disease. It can provide patients and physicians with better evidence of whether temporal lobe surgery will provide the results they seek.

 

By analyzing the neuronal activity in the temporal lobe, doctors can determine whether it is diseased, and therefore, whether removing it with surgery will be beneficial.

 

Is There a Cure for Epilepsy?

Surgery is one treatment option that has seen patients living seizure-free lives, even long-term. Take a look Stephanie’s story below, who has celebrated five years seizure free.