Epilepsy Identification
Epilepsy is a disease that results from abnormal electrical activity within the brain. Neurons within the brain use short electrical signals to communicate with one another and to send messages to nerves throughout the body. Because epilepsy is caused by aberrant electrical activity, the neurons and nerve cells within the brain send the wrong signals, which can lead to patients experiencing abnormal sensations, rapid mood swings, sudden muscle spasms and a loss of consciousness. According to the Mayo Clinic, the cause is unknown in about half of all patients with epilepsy.
Causes of Epilepsy
In some cases, there is a readily identifiable cause of epilepsy. For example, a traumatic head injury can cause epilepsy, as can a stroke. Certain diseases, such as AIDS and encephalitis, can also cause epilepsy. In other cases, dementia, such as that caused by Alzheimer's, can lead to epilepsy. There is also evidence that there is a genetic component to epilepsy. These genetic components could directly cause epilepsy or could increase the risk of epilepsy indirectly by causing certain developmental disorders, such as autism and Down's syndrome, which cause an increased risk of epilepsy.
Risk Factors
There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing epilepsy. Epilepsy most commonly appears in children and the elderly. Men are also slightly more likely than women to become epileptics. Head and brain injuries, including strokes and infections of the brain, such as meningitis and encephalitis, also put people at a higher risk of developing epilepsy, as can seizures experienced during childhood.
