Epilepsy and the weight of words

Language plays a crucial role in shaping how diseases are understood, experienced, and socially represented. Although the term epilepsy is clinically precise and universally recognized, it also carries a long history of misunderstanding, fear, and moral judgment that continues to contribute to stigma. Evidence shows that terminology influences public attitudes, self-perception, and social inclusion, while stigma remains a major determinant of reduced quality of life for people with epilepsy (PWE). Building on the concept of stigma as a "social comorbidity," this paper explores whether the term epilepsy itself may contribute to the persistence of negative stereotypes and social exclusion. We explore historical, clinical, neurophysiological, and sociolinguistic perspectives on epilepsy terminology, and discuss the challenges of identifying alternative labels that are scientifically accurate, socially neutral, and internationally translatable. Drawing parallels with other neurological and neurocognitive conditions in which terminology has evolved to reduce stigma, we argue that renaming alone is unlikely to resolve the problem. Instead, we advocate for a global, evidence-based, and inclusive discussion involving clinicians, researchers, advocacy organizations, patients, and families, as part of a broader strategy integrating education, policy, and culturally sensitive stigma-reduction interventions.