EPILEPSY RESEARCH

EPILEPSY is a central nervous system disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviour , sensations & sometimes loss of awareness. Types of seizuresGeneralized seizuresEPILEPSY is a central nervous system disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviour , sensations & sometimes loss of awareness. Types of seizuresGeneralized seizuresTonic, clonic, tonic – clonic, myoclonic, atonic 2 Focal seizuresSIMPLEMotor, sensory, autonomic2 Complex Focal seizure with secondary generalization 3 UNKNOWNEpileptic spasms Epilepsy syndromesBenign rolandic epilepsy – affects 15 % of children with epilepsy it can start at any time between the age of 3 to 10 yrs Childhood absence epilepsyJuvenile myoclonic epilepsyInfantile spasmsLennox – gastaut disease The underlying mechanism of epileptic seizures is excessive and abnormal neuronal activity in the cortex of the brain. The reason this occurs in most cases of epilepsy is unknown.Some cases occur as the result of brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, infections of the brain, or birth defects through a process known as epileptogenesis. Known genetic mutations are directly linked to a small proportion of cases. The diagnosis involves ruling out other conditions that might cause similar symptoms, such as fainting, and determining if another cause of seizures is present, such as alcohol withdrawal or electrolyte problems