Ketogenic Diet and Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders after stroke, and affects at least 50 million people worldwide. It is diagnosed in a person having recurrent unprovoked seizures. These occur when cortical neurons fire excessively, hypersynchronously, or both, leading to temporary disruption of normal brain function. This might affect, for example, the muscles, the senses, consciousness, or a combination. A seizure can be focal (confined to one part of the brain) or generalised (spread widely throughout the brain and leading to a loss of consciousness).

Epilepsy may occur for a variety of reasons; some forms have been classified into epileptic syndromes, most of which begin in childhood. Epilepsy is considered refractory to treatment when two or three anticonvulsant drugs have failed to control it. About 60% of patients will achieve control of their epilepsy with the first drug they use, whereas about 30% do not achieve control with drugs. When drugs fail, other options include epilepsy surgery, vagus nerve stimulation and the ketogenic diet.

Further Reading

• What is the Ketogenic Diet?
• History of the Ketogenic Diet
• Ketogenic Diet Efficacy
• Ketogenic Diet Indications and Contra-Indications
• Ketogenic Diet Side Effects
• Ketogenic Diet Types
• Ketogenic Diet Mechanism

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