What is a seizure? What is epilepsy?

Every time we think, walk, talk, or do other activities in our daily lives, our brains must coordinate this in a precise and coordinated manner. This process involves the communication between building blocks of our brains called neurons. A seizure is a transient event in which this communication process between neurons is disrupted. More specifically, there is abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. There are many different types of seizures, and they can affect people of any age.

However, not everyone who has had a seizure has a diagnosis of epilepsy.

According to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), someone who has epilepsy must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. At least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart

2. One unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years

3. Diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome

Beyond this definition as medical diagnosis, epilepsy has neurobiological, psychological, social, and cognitive implications on affected individuals and their families. 

Epilepsy effects 1:26 people worldwide, which means that there are over 3 million people with epilepsy in the United States; 470,000 of these are children. Up to 25% of people with epilepsy are not able to attain good control of their seizures with medication, which causes significant impacts to their life, safety, and autonomy.