Epilepsy is a chronic condition that can affect nerve cells in the brain, which results in seizures. There is currently no cure for epilepsy. But, with the right treatment, you can manage seizures and lead a happy and fulfilling life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 3.4 million people in the United States have epilepsy. The cause of the condition can be different for everyone, but it can sometimes occur as the result of a stroke or infection in the central nervous system.
The Epilepsy Foundation says that, with the right treatment, about 6 out of 10 people with epilepsy can live seizure-free within a few years.
Causes
There are many different causes of epilepsy, some of which can include:
- Infection: A brain infection may lead to seizures.
- Genetics: Some types of epilepsy are more likely to run in families.
- Autoimmune causes: If the body’s immune system becomes overactive and mistakenly targets parts of the brain, this can cause seizures.
- Metabolic causes: The food we eat is broken down by enzymes. If any of these enzymes are not working properly, it can be difficult to receive nutrients from food. Not getting the right nutrients your body needs to function can lead to seizures.
- Structural causes: If there is an abnormal structure in your brain, this can lead to seizures. This may have been there since birth or developed later in life.
The Epilepsy Foundation says that for half of all people with epilepsy, there is no known cause.
Current research
There is currently no permanent cure for epilepsy. But researchers are exploring the causes of the condition and working to develop new treatments. Developing areas of research include:
Understanding the cause
Researchers are developing a better understanding of some of the causes of seizures. For example, researchers have developed a gene-based risk score for epilepsy, which could allow early diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
By better understanding what genes can lead to epilepsy, it could allow people to access treatment sooner.
Progression
Tools are currently being developed to understand how epilepsy may progress for each person.
For example, in 2021, researchers found that they could understand how the disease would progress by looking at how neurons (nerve cells) are connected in certain parts of the brain. This information can help guide whether treatments like surgery will help manage seizures.
Researchers are also looking at the connection between the timing of treatments and how the condition progresses. A 2019 study found that for drug-resistant epilepsy, having surgery early could improve the chances of becoming seizure-free.
New treatments
Researchers are also looking into new treatments for epilepsy, for example:
- In 2022 and 2023, studies in rats investigated forms of brain stimulation that could create resistance to seizures.
- A 2020 study found that regularly listening to a piece of Mozart music could reduce seizures.
- A 2019 study in mice looked at using a medication usually used to treat multiple sclerosis for the treatment of epilepsy.
- In a 2020 study in rats, scientists found that a protein in the brain could play an important role in preventing certain types of seizures.
- A 2021 study found that gene therapy could lead to decreased seizures and inflammation in the brain.
Further research is needed on these new treatment ideas.
Early warning of seizures
Scientists are developing new tools to help people with epilepsy predict when seizures might occur. For example, in 2021, a research team created a mathematical model to warn someone that a seizure would happen 5 minutes to 1 hour in advance.
Another 2021 study found that a wrist-worn device may predict seizures. These tools could help people with epilepsy avoid accidents and better manage their condition.
These tools are not yet commercially available, and further investigation and development are still needed.
Treatment options
How epilepsy is treated depends on the type you have. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) suggests that your treatment options can include:
Medications
Antiseizure medication is the most common way to manage seizures. A doctor can help you decide which medication option is best for you. Examples include:
- carbamazepine (Carbatrol)
- lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- valproic acid (Depakene)
- oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar)
If you need help covering the cost of medications, Optum Perks’ free Discount Card could help you get up to 80% off prescription medication. See how much you can save on your medication here.
Diet
A ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, can help treat epilepsy when medication hasn’t worked.
Research suggests that over half of the people who follow the diet have more than a 50% improvement in seizure control.
Brain stimulation
For those who do not respond to antiseizure medication, brain stimulation may be an option. This involves electrical stimulation of certain parts of the brain.
Surgery
While there is no direct cure for epilepsy, studies have found that surgical resection may be curative for those with specific brain lesions or certain types of epilepsy, such as temporal lobe epilepsy.
In some instances, surgery may lead to a cure, but further research is needed on the effectiveness of epilepsy surgery.
This option is usually only considered if at least two medications haven’t worked or if you have a brain lesion that is causing your seizures. The different types of surgery for treating epilepsy typically involve removing or altering parts of the brain that may be causing seizures.
If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.
