Page Summary

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages

Epilepsy means the same thing as "seizure disorders"

Epilepsy is characterized by unpredictable seizures and can cause other health problems

Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with a wide range of seizure types and control varying from person-to-person

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder, the hallmark of which is recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Many people with epilepsy have more than one type of seizure and may have other symptoms of neurological problems as well.

Sometimes EEG testing, clinical history, family history and outlook are similar among a group of people with epilepsy. In these situations, their condition can be defined as a specific epilepsy syndrome.

The human brain is the source of human epilepsy. Although the symptoms of a seizure may affect any part of the body, the electrical events that produce the symptoms occur in the brain. The location of that event, how it spreads and how much of the brain is affected, and how long it lasts all have profound effects. These factors determine the character of a seizure and its impact on the individual.

Having seizures and epilepsy also can also affect one's safety, relationships, work, driving and so much more. How epilepsy is perceived or how people are treated (stigma) often is a bigger problem than the seizures.

The human brain is the source of all human epilepsy.

A person is diagnosed with epilepsy if they have had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known and reversible medical condition like alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but often the cause is completely unknown. The word "epilepsy" does not indicate anything about the cause of the person's seizures or their severity.

NEARLY 3 MILLION: Number of people in the United States who have epilepsy.

1 IN 26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime.

BETWEEN 4 AND 10 OUT OF 1,000: Number of people on earth who live with active seizures at any one time.

150,000: Number of new cases of epilepsy in the United States each year

ONE-THIRD: Number of people with epilepsy who live with uncontrollable seizures because no available treatment works for them.

6 OUT OF 10: Number of people with epilepsy where the cause is unknown.

Epilepsy: A New Defintion

After a consensus process involving international medical professionals and public comment, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) published a new definition for epilepsy. Dr. Robert Fisher, leader of the ILAE task force and former editor-in-chief of epilepsy.com, discusses the new definition in the editorial, "A Revised Definition of Epilepsy."