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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Robotic-Guided Stereoelectroencephalography for Invasive Epilepsy Monitoring

Robotic-Guided Stereoelectroencephalography for Invasive Epilepsy Monitoring

Published on: June 13, 2025

Epilepsy.

Orrin Devinsky¹, Annamaria Vezzani², Terence J O'Brien^3,4,5

¹Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Nature Reviews. Disease Primers

|May 4, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Accurate epilepsy diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, as misdiagnoses are common and can lead to severe consequences. Understanding epilepsy pathophysiology and genetics aids in developing better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Neuroscience
Genetics

Background:

Epilepsy is a common and disabling neurological disorder affecting all ages.
Accurate diagnosis is critical, as misdiagnoses and treatment errors are frequent, impacting patient outcomes.
A significant portion of patients (one-third) experience uncontrolled seizures despite various treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the importance of accurate epilepsy diagnosis.
To underscore the challenges in epilepsy management and treatment.
To emphasize the role of understanding pathophysiology and genetics in advancing epilepsy care.

Main Methods:

Review of current understanding of epilepsy pathophysiology, including epileptogenesis and ictogenesis.
Discussion of genetic factors associated with epilepsy (>500 genes discovered).
Exploration of diagnostic challenges and treatment modalities.

Main Results:

Diagnostic errors in epilepsy are common, leading to suboptimal treatment and severe consequences.
Epilepsy significantly impairs quality of life and can be fatal.
Advances in understanding epilepsy pathophysiology and genetics have led to new insights and potential targeted therapies.

Conclusions:

Accurate diagnosis and understanding of epilepsy pathophysiology are essential for effective patient management.
Genetic discoveries are paving the way for more precise diagnoses and targeted epilepsy therapies.
Continued research into epilepsy mechanisms is vital for improving seizure control and patient outcomes.