Little-Known Facts About Epilepsy
- In two-thirds of patients diagnosed with epilepsy, the cause is unknown.
- Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, stroke,
head injury, and many other factors.
- Recurring seizures are also a burden for those living with brain tumors
and other disorders such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism,
Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, tuberous sclerosis,
and a variety of genetic syndromes.
- There is a strong association between epilepsy and depression: more than
one of every three persons with epilepsy will also be affected by depression,
and people with a history of depression have a higher risk of developing epilepsy.
- It is estimated that up to 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from
prolonged seizures, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and
additional seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents.
- For many soldiers suffering traumatic brain injury on the battlefield,
epilepsy will be a long-term consequence.
Cited from the Epilepsy Support Network of Orange County and
EpilepsyAdvocate.com