What Is Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a symptom that can be caused by any disease or trauma that affects the cortex of the brain. Sometimes called a seizure disorder, it is a chronic medical condition produced by temporary changes in the electrical function of the brain, causing seizures that affect awareness, movement or sensation.

Approximately 3.3 million people have seizure disorders and another 180,000 are added to this number each year. Surprisingly, a substantial number of people have seizure disorders but don't realize it, another segment has been misdiagnosed and still another group of seizure victims are not receiving appropriate treatment.

A person who has two or more unprovoked seizures is considered to have epilepsy. In Nebraska, approximately 20,000 people are affected by epilepsy. About 6,000 of these individuals have intractable epilepsy, the most difficult to treat and require specialized care.

The study and treatment of epilepsy is a rapidly changing and advancing field. In fact, physicians have learned more about the brain in the last few years, than they have in the last 400 years. New advancements in imaging techniques such as MRI, PET and SPECT scans are allowing physicians to see more clearly into the brain and have revealed that many patients develop seizures as a result of developmental abnormalities. Understanding the function and developmental processes of the brain are critical to the treatment and management of epilepsy. This knowledge has resulted in new and better medications. For instance, 10 years ago, there were only four or five drugs available to treat epilepsy. Today, there are as many as 12 drugs, in addition to several new surgical techniques.