Epilepsy Rachel Rosario 1st Hour LA 10

“The goal is to understand the mechanisms of epilepsy, which are not known, and create better treatments for this terrible disorder.” - Brian Ross

Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures that will affect a variety of different mental and physical functions.

BACKGROUND

What’s a Seizure? Sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain Usually affects how a person feels or acts for a short time. Can be unnoticeable or very noticeable

What’s Epilepsy? Epilepsy can be diagnosed after one seizure The word epilepsy doesn’t indicate anything towards epilepsy, it’s just a name Affects 65 million people worldwide

CAUSES

Idiopathic Epilepsy Family history of epilepsy Genetic cause Partial VS. Generalized 3 kinds of seizures

Symptomatic Epilepsy Cause is unknown Brain damage and injury may have caused this Begins at birth or early adulthood Can be treatable

EFFECTS EFFECTS

Medication Dizziness, fatigue, weight gain, loss of bone density, skin rashes, loss of coordination, and speech problems Depression/Suicidal Thoughts Inflammation of organs

Surgery Can be deadly, very rare though Altering cognitive abilities forever Like memory, perception, judgment and reasoning

Therapy Therapy-Throat pain, hoarseness, shortness of breath, tingling, and muscle pain Diet-Dehydration, constipation, slow growth, development of kidney stones

SOLUTIONS

Medicine Use a single antiepileptic drug Can get rid of seizures for some Or decrease the frequency/intensity for others

Surgery Doctors remove part of brain that causes seizures Make a series of cuts in brain to prevent it spreading throughout the brain Only for some patients When seizures are in small, well-defined part of brain

Therapy Called Vagus Nerve Stimulation Battery powered device Bursts of electricial energy to brain Still have to take medication Reduces seizures 20-40%

Ketogenetic Diet High in fats, low in carbs Breaks down fats for energy May have a lot of effects for patient

Seizure Dogs Trained to know when a seizure is happening Mainly for kids Barks for help Break falls, in case patient hits the ground

CONCLUSION

Conclusion Epilepsy is a neurological condition which effects the brain and causes seizures, which then creates abnormal behaviors/action. Doctors are doing as much as they can to prevent and treat epilepsy.

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