Seizure

An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain".

What is a Seizure?

Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In the healthy brain, electrical and chemical signals are fired between nerves called neurons to drive the brain's ability to think, feel and send instructions to parts of the body, such as the muscles. Seizures occur when this electrical system in the brain malfunctions.

Epileptic Seizure Diagnosis

Epileptic Seizure Causes

Epileptic Seizure Symptoms

Epileptic Seizure Management

Latest Seizure News and Research

Doctors warn of a deadly complication from measles outbreaks

The first sign came when Deepanwita Dasgupta was 5 and started stumbling more while playing at her home in Bangalore in southern India.

13 Mar 2026

Study finds keto diet strengthens the brain against epilepsy

Published in The Lancet Neurology, a new review from the University of Colorado Anschutz in collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center, offers the latest scientific explanations for why ketogenic diets reduce seizures in people with epilepsy.

12 Mar 2026

New review reveals complex polygenic architecture underlying common epilepsies

An insightful mini-review published in Genomic Psychiatry synthesizes the rapidly expanding landscape of molecular genetic research on common epilepsies, assembling evidence from genome-wide association studies, whole-exome sequencing projects, and advanced statistical modeling to illuminate the polygenic architecture that underpins these heterogeneous neurological disorders.

10 Mar 2026

As ICE moved in, Minnesotans set up a shadow medical system. It’s a lesson for other cities.

Gabi has big brown eyes, pigtails, and a genetic condition that makes her bones brittle. They fracture easily, leaving the 2-year-old in such pain that her mother quit her job cleaning offices to stay home and cradle her in the one-bedroom apartment they share with six relatives.

5 Mar 2026

Novel gene regulation therapy passes key clinical milestone

Groundbreaking Phase 1/2a clinical trials co-led by Linda Laux, MD, from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, show that the first gene regulation treatment for epilepsy is safe and well tolerated by patients with Dravet syndrome for whom antiseizure medications are not effective.

4 Mar 2026

A hidden movement map discovered in the brain’s insula

Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a hidden "movement map" deep within the brain - a discovery that could help surgeons reduce side effects from epilepsy procedures and guide future treatments for speech and movement disorders.

4 Mar 2026

Families defend disability services amid Medicaid cuts

Families of Idahoans with disabilities say their lives could be upended as lawmakers in the state's Republican-dominated legislature mull sweeping cuts.

2 Mar 2026

Ketogenic diet alters brain signaling to reduce epileptic seizures

A ketogenic diet - one that is high in fat and extremely low in carbohydrates - has been known for decades to reduce seizures in some epilepsy patients.

25 Feb 2026

Brain's remarkable adaptation to upper limb difference aids children's daily lives

A unique study imaging brain activity in children born with upper limb difference – for example, one hand – has shown the amazing ability of the brain to adapt to compensate and support their daily lives.

24 Feb 2026

Review compares surgical and neurostimulation outcomes in temporal lobe epilepsy

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of focal epilepsy, affecting a significant proportion of patients who develop drug-resistant epilepsy.

13 Feb 2026

FDA-approved anti-seizure drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease

While physicians and scientists have long known Alzheimer's disease involves the buildup of toxic protein fragments in the brain, they have struggled to understand how these harmful fragments are produced.

12 Feb 2026

Tiny organism offers insight into neurological side effects of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer, yet it often comes with significant long-term side effects that can dramatically affect patients' quality of life.

11 Feb 2026

Chronic brain compression triggers neuron death through multiple pathways

To think, feel, talk and move, neurons send messages through electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord.

9 Feb 2026

‘I can’t tell you’: Attorneys, relatives struggle to find hospitalized ICE detainees

Lydia Romero strained to hear her husband's feeble voice through the phone.

30 Jan 2026

New peptide targets the root causes of recurring seizures

New study suggests that an experimental peptide developed at the Hebrew University may reduce recurring seizures and support brain function by targeting underlying oxidative stress and inflammation processes linked to epilepsy.

28 Jan 2026

New 2026 guideline expands access to advanced acute ischemic stroke care

Expanded eligibility for advanced stroke therapies and new recommendations for diagnosing and treating stroke in children and adults are among the major updates in the new 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, published today in the Association's flagship journal Stroke.

26 Jan 2026

Web-app helps children with epilepsy to fall asleep earlier

An evidence-based web-app helped children with epilepsy to fall asleep on average 16.5 minutes earlier.

7 Jan 2026

New roadmap guides antiseizure medication adjustments during pregnancy and postpartum

For the first time, clinicians have access to a clear, evidence-based roadmap for adjusting antiseizure medication doses during pregnancy and after childbirth.

30 Dec 2025

People with epilepsy and learning disabilities face preventable early deaths

A combination of missed prevention opportunities and health inequalities can result in the early deaths of people living with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, a study has shown.

10 Dec 2025

Glucose-lowering drugs may reduce risk of developing epilepsy

A preliminary study of people with diabetes suggests that use of glucose-lowering GLP-1 drugs may be linked to a lower risk of developing epilepsy. The study was published on December 10, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Dec 2025