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Seizures

Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain that briefly upsets normal brain function. What causes this change in electrical activity is not always clear.

There are several conditions that can cause epilepsy by damaging the brain, including:

• Head injury.
• Stroke or conditions that affect the blood vessels (vascular system) in the brain.
• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in the brain.
• Brain tumor.
• Brain infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis.
• Alzheimer's disease.
• Alcohol or drug abuse.

Damage resulting from these conditions can affect the brain's electrical system, causing the intermittent abnormal electrical activity that results in seizures. Tumors, scar tissue from injury or disease, or abnormal brain development may damage a specific area of the brain, causing partial seizures.

In many cases of epilepsy, there is no known cause. Children are more likely than adults to develop epilepsy from an unknown cause (idiopathic epilepsy). A family history of epilepsy may sometimes be a factor, although experts are not sure what factors cause epilepsy to be passed from parent to child.

Not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy. Nonepileptic seizures may result from several different medical conditions (poisoning, fever, fainting, or alcohol or drug withdrawal, among others). Seizures that occur at the time of a disease, injury, or illness and stop when the condition improves are not related to epilepsy. However, if seizures occur repeatedly (become chronic), occurring weeks, months, or even years after the injury or illness, the person may have developed epilepsy as a result of the condition.

What are the long term effects of seizures on the thinking? A description of a study and the results measuring the effects of seizures. Click on your back browser to return

Types of epilepsy

There are two basic types of seizures caused by epilepsy:

• Generalized seizures begin over the entire surface of the brain and may affect the entire body. In people who have generalized seizures, it is impossible to pinpoint a specific location in the brain that is the source of the seizure.
• Partial seizures begin in a specific location in the brain. Partial seizures may affect awareness or only one side or part of the body, but they may also generalize to affect the entire body.

The difference is important, because partial seizures and generalized seizures are treated with different medications. The distinction is a key factor in guiding treatment.

There are many types of epilepsy that can cause partial or generalized seizures. Classifying the types of epilepsy is difficult. Different types can have more than one cause, can cause more than one type of seizure, and can affect different people in different ways. Epilepsy that causes partial seizures, for instance, can take on an endless number of forms, depending on which part of the brain is affected.

Only a minority of epilepsy syndromes are associated with below-average intelligence and problems with physical and mental development. Seizures may look scary or strange, but they do not make a person crazy, violent, or dangerous.  Most people with epilepsy have normal intelligence and are able to marry, have children and work..