Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a group of disorders marked by problems in the normal functioning of the brain. These problems can produce seizures, unusual body movements, a loss of consciousness or changes in consciousness, as well as mental problems or problems with the senses.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that has been known to mankind since ancient times. It affects the brain to cause repeated convulsions or seizures - also called fits in common parlance. The word “epilepsy” comes from the Greek and means to be taken, seized or attacked.

Epilepsy Classification

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Catamenial Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment

Epilepsy Syndromes

Epilepsy Epidemiology

Epilepsy Seizure Types

Can Stem Cells be Used to Treat Epilepsy?

Catamenial Epilepsy

Epilepsy Legal Implications

Breath Analysis in Epilepsy Treatment Monitoring

Epilepsy Pathophysiology

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Epilepsy Treatment

Epilepsy in Children

Latest Epilepsy News and Research

CHOP researchers link MAP2K4 variants to a neurodevelopmental disorder

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have discovered the mechanisms of previously unknown changes in a gene that result in symptoms associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder.

13 Oct 2026

Hybrid AI architecture improves seizure prediction using EEG signals

Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide and can seriously affect patients' quality of life. Electroencephalography (EEG), which records the brain's electrical activity in real time, plays an important role in epilepsy diagnosis and monitoring.

13 Oct 2026

AI helps neurologists distinguish epilepsy from functional seizures

Researchers developed EpiScreen, an AI system that distinguished epilepsy from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures using clinical notes from 13,633 patient records across two institutions. AI assistance improved neurologists’ classification accuracy in a retrospective assessment of 300 cases, but prospective studies must establish its performance and benefits in routine clinical care.

12 Oct 2026

New project aims to test a protein-based therapy for Fragile X syndrome

A new research project at the University of California, Riverside, has received funding to investigate whether a novel protein-based therapy can correct abnormal brain activity associated with Fragile X syndrome.

9 Oct 2026

Study finds both the liver and brain drive distinct symptoms of rare genetic epilepsy

A recent study from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that both the liver and brain contribute pathways to differing symptoms of the same rare inherited disorder.

9 Oct 2026

Early-onset Alzheimer's patients accumulate symptoms years before diagnosis

People who develop Alzheimer's disease before the age of 65 experience a growing range of health problems and increasing use of healthcare services years before diagnosis.

9 Oct 2026

What young cancer survivors revealed about stress, exercise and friendship

Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors use exercise and social support to cope with stress, revealing insights for effective mental health interventions.

9 Oct 2026

Epilepsy drugs may reduce effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives

People with epilepsy who use certain hormonal birth control methods may be at risk for reduced contraceptive effectiveness because of interactions with certain antiseizure medications, according to a study published October 7, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

7 Oct 2026

Cannabis products associated with sustained improvements in patients with inflammatory arthritis

The sustained use of medical cannabis preparations provides safe and effective relief for patients with inflammatory arthritis, according to observational data published in the journal Clinical Medicine Insights: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders.

6 Oct 2026

Genomics and AI identify a candidate gene behind rare neurodevelopmental disorder

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital, the Texome Project and collaborating institutions have identified variants in gene BRSK1 as a likely diagnosis for individuals with a rare and complex neurodevelopmental disorder who until now had not received an explanation for their condition.

28 Sep 2026

Study links insomnia to higher stroke and hospitalization risks

Insomnia is associated with a 26% higher risk of stroke and 28% higher odds of hospital admission, according to new research in Sleep Medicine Reviews. The researchers say the findings support recognizing insomnia as an important marker of brain, mental and general health.

28 Sep 2026

Common anti-epileptic medication shows promise in reducing migraine aura

A new study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden found that 85 percent of patients with aura-dominant migraine experienced a reduction in monthly aura days by at least half following treatment with the anti-epileptic drug lamotrigine.

25 Sep 2026

Transient ischemic attacks linked to increased long-term dementia risk

Having a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published September 23, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Sep 2026

Stroke rates nearly doubled among younger adults over three decades

Stroke is becoming more common among younger adults, according to a study published September 23, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Sep 2026

Brain organoids reveal new clues for childhood epilepsy treatments

Tiny, year-old human brain organoids that mimic the brain of a newborn are providing new clues to potential treatments for a leading genetic cause of childhood epilepsy that typically manifests as the brain matures shortly after birth.

23 Sep 2026

Groundbreaking technology uses quantum sensors to measure heart activity

Physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a groundbreaking technology that uses quantum sensors to measure biomagnetic signals, such as heart activity.

17 Sep 2026

New MRI measure maps blood flow and cellular organization

Researchers from the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have developed a new, noninvasive way to examine how blood flow and cellular organization align across the layers of the living human brain.

17 Sep 2026

Military blast exposure associated with long-term health conditions

Exposure to high-level blasts from incoming explosive devices or land mines among military veterans is associated with an increased risk of several conditions such as seizures, neuropathy and stroke years later, according to a study published September 16, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16 Sep 2026

Scientists discover brain spot that drives risk-taking decisions

Every day, your brain runs the same calculation: take a risk or play it safe? Your gas tank might be low, but there's just enough to make it to work on time.

15 Sep 2026

New structural insights could improve treatments for neurological disorders

Metabotropic glutamate receptors, which are important but difficult drug targets, interact in surprisingly varied ways with their principal regulatory proteins, according to two new studies led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

15 Sep 2026