Epilepsy - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions FindoutaboutCOVID-19,COVID-19vaccines,andMayoClinicpatientandvisitorupdates. Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforEpilepsySymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Print Overview Explainingepilepsy ListentospecialistLilyWong-Kisiel,M.D.,walkthroughtheepilepsybasics. ShowtranscriptforvideoExplainingepilepsy Hi,I'mDr.LilyWong-Kisiel,apediatricneurologistatMayoClinic.Inthisvideo,we'llcoverthebasicsofepilepsy.Whatisit?Whogetsit?Thesymptomsdiagnosisandtreatment.Whetheryou'relookingforanswersforyourselforsomeoneyoulove,we'reheretogiveyouthebestinformationavailable.Firstofall,epilepsyiscommon.Around3millionpeopleintheU.S.haveepilepsy,makingitthefourthmostcommonneurologicaldiseaseaftermigraine,strokeandAlzheimer's.Epilepsyhappensasaresultofabnormalelectricalbrainactivity,alsoknownasaseizure,kindoflikeanelectricalstorminsideyourhead.Andbecauseyourbraincontrolssomuch,alotofdifferentthingscangowrong.Youmayhaveperiodsofunusualbehaviors,feelingsandsometimeslossofawareness.Therearemanytypesofseizures,includingtwomaincategories:focal,meaningtheystartinaparticularpartofyourbrain,orgeneralized,meaningtheseizuresinitiallyinvolveallareasofthebrain.Therearesomemythsaboutepilepsywecandismiss.Ifyouarewithsomeoneexperiencingaseizure,don'tputanythingintheirmouth.Theycan'tactuallyswallowtheirtongue.Don'trestrainthem.Anddon'tworry,epilepsyisn'tcontagious,soyoucan'tcatchit. Althoughchildrenorolderadultsaremoresusceptible,anyonecandevelopepilepsy.Whenepilepsyisdiagnosedinolderadults,it'ssometimesfromanotherneurologicalissue,likeastrokeorabraintumor.Othercausescanberelatedtogeneticabnormalities,priorbraininfection,prenatalinjuriesordevelopmentaldisorders.Butinabouthalfofpeoplewithepilepsy,there'snoapparentcause. Becausetheyhappeninthebrain,seizurescanaffectanyprocessyourbrainhandles.Therefore,symptomscanvary.Manyindividualswithepilepsytendtohavethesametypeofseizureeachtime.However,somewillhavemorethanonetype.So,howdoyourecognizeaseizure?Keepaneyeoutfortemporaryconfusion,astaringspell,uncontrollablejerking,lossofconsciousness,fear,anxietyordejavu. Let'stalkaboutthetwotypesofseizuresagain:focalandgeneralized.Focalseizureshappenoneoftwoways:withoutlossofawarenessorwithimpairedawareness.Inthosewhereyouremainconscious,youmayexperiencealteredemotionsorchangeinsensationlikesmell,soundortaste.Youmayalsohavedizziness,tinglingorseeflashinglights.Youcouldalsoexperienceinvoluntaryjerkingofbodypartslikeyourarmoryourleg.Whenyouloseorhavealteredawareness,youcanpassoutorstareintospaceandnotreallyrespondnormally.Handrubbing,chewing,swallowingorwalkingincirclescanhappeninthiskindofseizure.Becausethesesymptomsoverlapwithmigraineorotherneurologicaldisorders,heartproblemsorpsychiatricconditions,testsareneededforadiagnosis.Generalizedonsetseizures,theonesthathappenacrossallareasofthebrain,showupinavarietyofways.Absenceseizuresaremarkedbystaringabsentlyintospace.Blinkingandlipsmackingcanalsohappen.Tonicseizuresinvolveastiffeningoftheback,armandlegs.Theoppositeoftonicseizuresareatonicseizures,whichresultinalossofmusclecontrol.Insteadofgoingstiff,everythinggoesslack.Clonicseizuresusuallyaffecttheneck,faceandarmswithrepeatedjerkingmovements.Similartoclonicseizure,myoclonicseizuresinvolvesuddenbriefjerksortwitchesofthearms.Lastly,therearetonic-clonicseizures.Likethenamesuggests,theseinvolvepartsofbothtonicandclonicsigns.Bodystiffeningandshaking,lossofbladdercontrolorbitingyourtonguecanalsohappen.Knowingthekindofseizureyouhaveiskeytotreatment. Evenafterhavingasingleseizure,sometimesthediagnosisofepilepsycan'tbemade.Regardless,ifyoudohavesomethingthatseemslikeafirst-timeseizure,seeaphysician.Yourdoctormayassessyourmotorabilities,mentalfunctionandotherareastodiagnoseyourconditionanddetermineifyouhaveepilepsy.Theymayalsoorderadditionaldiagnostictests.Theycouldincludeneurologicalexam,bloodtests,EEG,CTscan,brainimagingandsometimesneuropsychologicaltests.Becauseyourbrainissuchacomplicatedpieceofmachinery,neurologists,epileptologists,neurosurgeons,neuroradiologists,mentalhealthspecialists,andotherprofessionalsallworktogethertoprovideexactlythecareyouneed. Thebestcarestartswithanaccuratediagnosis.Themedicationswehaveforepilepsyareincrediblyeffective.Morethanhalfofthecasesareseizure-freeaftertheirfirstmedication.Butwhenmedicationdoesnotworkatstoppingseizurescompletely,thereareotheremergingwaysoftreatingepilepsy,includingsurgeryandbrainstimulation.Andacomprehensivelevel4epilepsycentercanhelpfindyouthebestwaytomanageyourcare.Forpatientsundergoingtreatment,it'simportanttokeepadetailedseizurejournal.Eachtimeyouhaveaseizure,writedownthetime,thetypeandhowlongitlasted,makingnoteofanythingoutoftheordinary,likemissedmedication,sleepdeprivation,increasedstress,menstruation,oranythingelsethatcouldtriggerit. Thoughwedon'talwaysknowwhypeoplesufferfromepilepsy,ongoingresearchcontinuestobuildourknowledgeandimprovetreatmentoptions.Andbettertreatmentmeanshappierpatients.Ifyou'dliketolearnevenmoreaboutepilepsy,watchourotherrelatedvideosorvisitmayoclinic.org.Wewishyouwell. Epilepsyisacentralnervoussystem(neurological)disorderinwhichbrainactivitybecomesabnormal,causingseizuresorperiodsofunusualbehavior,sensationsandsometimeslossofawareness. Anyonecandevelopepilepsy.Epilepsyaffectsbothmalesandfemalesofallraces,ethnicbackgroundsandages. Seizuresymptomscanvarywidely.Somepeoplewithepilepsysimplystareblanklyforafewsecondsduringaseizure,whileothersrepeatedlytwitchtheirarmsorlegs.Havingasingleseizuredoesn'tmeanyouhaveepilepsy.Atleasttwoseizureswithoutaknowntrigger(unprovokedseizures)thathappenatleast24hoursapartaregenerallyrequiredforanepilepsydiagnosis. Treatmentwithmedicationsorsometimessurgerycancontrolseizuresforthemajorityofpeoplewithepilepsy.Somepeoplerequirelifelongtreatmenttocontrolseizures,butforothers,theseizureseventuallygoaway.Somechildrenwithepilepsymayoutgrowtheconditionwithage.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsBecauseepilepsyiscausedbyabnormalactivityinthebrain,seizurescanaffectanyprocessyourbraincoordinates.Seizuresignsandsymptomsmayinclude: Temporaryconfusion Astaringspell Stiffmuscles Uncontrollablejerkingmovementsofthearmsandlegs Lossofconsciousnessorawareness Psychologicalsymptomssuchasfear,anxietyordejavu Symptomsvarydependingonthetypeofseizure.Inmostcases,apersonwithepilepsywilltendtohavethesametypeofseizureeachtime,sothesymptomswillbesimilarfromepisodetoepisode. Doctorsgenerallyclassifyseizuresaseitherfocalorgeneralized,basedonhowandwheretheabnormalbrainactivitybegins. FocalseizuresWhenseizuresappeartoresultfromabnormalactivityinjustoneareaofyourbrain,they'recalledfocalseizures.Theseseizuresfallintotwocategories: Focalseizureswithoutlossofconsciousness.Oncecalledsimplepartialseizures,theseseizuresdon'tcausealossofconsciousness.Theymayalteremotionsorchangethewaythingslook,smell,feel,tasteorsound.Somepeopleexperiencedejavu.Thistypeofseizuremayalsoresultininvoluntaryjerkingofonebodypart,suchasanarmorleg,andspontaneoussensorysymptomssuchastingling,dizzinessandflashinglights. Focalseizureswithimpairedawareness.Oncecalledcomplexpartialseizures,theseseizuresinvolveachangeorlossofconsciousnessorawareness.Thistypeofseizuremayseemlikebeinginadream.Duringafocalseizurewithimpairedawareness,youmaystareintospaceandnotrespondnormallytoyourenvironmentorperformrepetitivemovements,suchashandrubbing,chewing,swallowingorwalkingincircles. Symptomsoffocalseizuresmaybeconfusedwithotherneurologicaldisorders,suchasmigraine,narcolepsyormentalillness.Athoroughexaminationandtestingareneededtodistinguishepilepsyfromotherdisorders. GeneralizedseizuresSeizuresthatappeartoinvolveallareasofthebrainarecalledgeneralizedseizures.Sixtypesofgeneralizedseizuresexist. Absenceseizures.Absenceseizures,previouslyknownaspetitmalseizures,typicallyoccurinchildren.They'recharacterizedbystaringintospacewithorwithoutsubtlebodymovementssuchaseyeblinkingorlipsmackingandonlylastbetween5-10seconds.Theseseizuresmayoccurinclusters,happeningasoftenas100timesperday,andcauseabrieflossofawareness. Tonicseizures.Tonicseizurescausestiffmusclesandmayaffectconsciousness.Theseseizuresusuallyaffectmusclesinyourback,armsandlegsandmaycauseyoutofalltotheground. Atonicseizures.Atonicseizures,alsoknownasdropseizures,causealossofmusclecontrol.Sincethismostoftenaffectsthelegs,itoftencausesyoutosuddenlycollapseorfalldown. Clonicseizures.Clonicseizuresareassociatedwithrepeatedorrhythmic,jerkingmusclemovements.Theseseizuresusuallyaffecttheneck,faceandarms. Myoclonicseizures.Myoclonicseizuresusuallyappearassuddenbriefjerksortwitchesandusuallyaffecttheupperbody,armsandlegs. Tonic-clonicseizures.Tonic-clonicseizures,previouslyknownasgrandmalseizures,arethemostdramatictypeofepilepticseizure.Theycancauseanabruptlossofconsciousnessandbodystiffening,twitchingandshaking.Theysometimescauselossofbladdercontrolorbitingyourtongue. WhentoseeadoctorSeekimmediatemedicalhelpifanyofthefollowingoccurs: Theseizurelastsmorethanfiveminutes. Breathingorconsciousnessdoesn'treturnaftertheseizurestops. Asecondseizurefollowsimmediately. Youhaveahighfever. You'repregnant. Youhavediabetes. You'veinjuredyourselfduringtheseizure. Youcontinuetohaveseizureseventhoughyou'vebeentakinganti-seizuremedication. Ifyouexperienceaseizureforthefirsttime,seekmedicaladvice. Thereisaproblemwithinformationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatetheinformationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. GetthelatestepilepsyinformationfromMayoClinicdeliveredtoyourinbox. Subscribeforfreeandreceivethelatestonepilepsytreatment,careandmanagement. Iwouldliketolearnmoreabout: Latestonnewlydiagnosedepilepsycare Adviceforthemanagementofepilepsy ErrorSelectatopic ErrorEmailfieldisrequired ErrorIncludeavalidemailaddress Subscribe LearnmoreaboutMayoClinic'suseofdata. Toprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandhelpfulinformation,andunderstandwhichinformationisbeneficial,wemaycombineyouremailandwebsiteusageinformationwithotherinformationwehaveaboutyou.IfyouareaMayoClinicpatient,thiscouldincludeprotectedhealthinformation.Ifwecombinethisinformationwithyourprotectedhealthinformation,wewilltreatallofthatinformationasprotectedhealthinformation,andwillonlyuseordisclosethatinformationassetforthinournoticeofprivacypractices.Youmayopt-outofemailcommunicationsatanytimebyclickingontheunsubscribelinkinthee-mail. ThanksforSubscribing Youwillreceivethefirstepilepsyemailmessageinyourinboxshortly.Thismessagewillincludethelatesttreatmentoptions,innovationsandotherinformationfromourepilepsyexperts. Youmayoptoutoftheseemailsanytimebyclickingtheunsubscribelinkintheemail. Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesEpilepsyhasnoidentifiablecauseinabouthalfthepeoplewiththecondition.Intheotherhalf,theconditionmaybetracedtovariousfactors,including: Geneticinfluence.Sometypesofepilepsy,whicharecategorizedbythetypeofseizureyouexperienceorthepartofthebrainthatisaffected,runinfamilies.Inthesecases,it'slikelythatthere'sageneticinfluence. Researchershavelinkedsometypesofepilepsytospecificgenes,butformostpeople,genesareonlypartofthecauseofepilepsy.Certaingenesmaymakeapersonmoresensitivetoenvironmentalconditionsthattriggerseizures. Headtrauma.Headtraumaasaresultofacaraccidentorothertraumaticinjurycancauseepilepsy. Brainabnormalities.Abnormalitiesinthebrain,includingbraintumorsorvascularmalformationssuchasarteriovenousmalformations(AVMs)andcavernousmalformations,cancauseepilepsy.Strokeisaleadingcauseofepilepsyinadultsolderthanage35. Infections.Meningitis,HIV,viralencephalitisandsomeparasiticinfectionscancauseepilepsy. Prenatalinjury.Beforebirth,babiesaresensitivetobraindamagethatcouldbecausedbyseveralfactors,suchasaninfectioninthemother,poornutritionoroxygendeficiencies.Thisbraindamagecanresultinepilepsyorcerebralpalsy. Developmentaldisorders.Epilepsycansometimesbeassociatedwithdevelopmentaldisorders,suchasautism. RiskfactorsCertainfactorsmayincreaseyourriskofepilepsy: Age.Theonsetofepilepsyismostcommoninchildrenandolderadults,buttheconditioncanoccuratanyage. Familyhistory.Ifyouhaveafamilyhistoryofepilepsy,youmaybeatanincreasedriskofdevelopingaseizuredisorder. Headinjuries.Headinjuriesareresponsibleforsomecasesofepilepsy.Youcanreduceyourriskbywearingaseatbeltwhileridinginacarandbywearingahelmetwhilebicycling,skiing,ridingamotorcycleorengaginginotheractivitieswithahighriskofheadinjury. Strokeandothervasculardiseases.Strokeandotherbloodvessel(vascular)diseasescanleadtobraindamagethatmaytriggerepilepsy.Youcantakeanumberofstepstoreduceyourriskofthesediseases,includinglimitingyourintakeofalcoholandavoidingcigarettes,eatingahealthydiet,andexercisingregularly. Dementia.Dementiacanincreasetheriskofepilepsyinolderadults. Braininfections.Infectionssuchasmeningitis,whichcausesinflammationinyourbrainorspinalcord,canincreaseyourrisk. Seizuresinchildhood.Highfeversinchildhoodcansometimesbeassociatedwithseizures.Childrenwhohaveseizuresduetohighfeversgenerallywon'tdevelopepilepsy.Theriskofepilepsyincreasesifachildhasalongfever-associatedseizure,anothernervoussystemconditionorafamilyhistoryofepilepsy. ComplicationsHavingaseizureatcertaintimescanleadtocircumstancesthataredangeroustoyourselforothers. Falling.Ifyoufallduringaseizure,youcaninjureyourheadorbreakabone. Drowning.Ifyouhaveepilepsy,you're13-19timesmorelikelytodrownwhileswimmingorbathingthantherestofthepopulationbecauseofthepossibilityofhavingaseizurewhileinthewater. Caraccidents.Aseizurethatcauseseitherlossofawarenessorcontrolcanbedangerousifyou'redrivingacaroroperatingotherequipment. Manystateshavedriver'slicenserestrictionsrelatedtoadriver'sabilitytocontrolseizuresandimposeaminimumamountoftimethatadriverbeseizure-free,rangingfrommonthstoyears,beforebeingallowedtodrive. Pregnancycomplications.Seizuresduringpregnancyposedangerstobothmotherandbaby,andcertainanti-epilepticmedicationsincreasetheriskofbirthdefects.Ifyouhaveepilepsyandyou'reconsideringbecomingpregnant,talktoyourdoctorasyouplanyourpregnancy. Mostwomenwithepilepsycanbecomepregnantandhavehealthybabies.You'llneedtobecarefullymonitoredthroughoutpregnancy,andmedicationsmayneedtobeadjusted.It'sveryimportantthatyouworkwithyourdoctortoplanyourpregnancy. Emotionalhealthissues.Peoplewithepilepsyaremorelikelytohavepsychologicalproblems,especiallydepression,anxiety,andsuicidalthoughtsandbehaviors.Problemsmaybearesultofdifficultiesdealingwiththeconditionitselfaswellasmedicationsideeffects,butevenpeoplewithwell-controlledepilepsyareatincreasedrisk. Otherlife-threateningcomplicationsofepilepsyareuncommon,butmayhappen,suchas: Statusepilepticus.Thisconditionoccursifyou'reinastateofcontinuousseizureactivitylastingmorethanfiveminutesorifyouhavefrequentrecurrentseizureswithoutregainingfullconsciousnessinbetweenthem.Peoplewithstatusepilepticushaveanincreasedriskofpermanentbraindamageanddeath. Suddenunexpecteddeathinepilepsy(SUDEP).Peoplewithepilepsyalsohaveasmallriskofsuddenunexpecteddeath.Thecauseisunknown,butsomeresearchshowsitmayoccurduetoheartorrespiratoryconditions. Peoplewithfrequenttonic-clonicseizuresorpeoplewhoseseizuresaren'tcontrolledbymedicationsmaybeathigherriskofSUDEP.Overall,about1%ofpeoplewithepilepsydieofSUDEP.It'smostcommoninthosewithsevereepilepsythatdoesn'trespondtotreatment. ByMayoClinicStaff EpilepsycareatMayoClinic RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment Oct.07,2021 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Theepilepsiesandseizures:Hopethroughresearch.NationalInstituteofNeurologicalDisordersandStroke.https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Epilepsies-and-Seizures-Hope-Through.AccessedJune3,2021. SchachterSC.Evaluationandmanagementofthefirstseizureinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune3,2021. Getseizuresmart.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/features/getseizuresmart/index.html.AccessedJune3,2021. DaroffRB,etal.Epilepsies.In:Bradley'sNeurologyinClinicalPractice.8thed.Elsevier;2022.https://www.clinicalkey.com.AccessedJune3,2021. WilfongA.Seizuresandepilepsyinchildren:Classification,etiology,andclinicalfeatures.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune3,2021. SimonRP,etal.Seizures&syncope.In:ClinicalNeurology.10thed.McGrawHill;2018.https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.AccessedJune3,2021. FerriFF.Seizures,generalizedtonicclonic.In:Ferri'sClinicalAdvisor2021.Elsevier;2021.https://www.clinicalkey.com.AccessedJune3,2021. SchachterSC.Overviewofthemanagementofepilepsyinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune3,2021. Whogetsepilepsy?EpilepsyFoundation.http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/who-gets-epilepsy.AccessedJune3,2021. SchachterSC.Suddenunexpecteddeathinepilepsy.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune3,2021. Neurologicaldiagnostictestsandproceduresfactsheet.NationalInstituteofNeurologicalDisordersandStroke.https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Neurological-Diagnostic-Tests-and-Procedures-Fact.AccessedJune4,2021. HaiderHA,etal.Neuroimagingintheevaluationofseizuresandepilepsy.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune4,2021. KarceskiS.Initialtreatmentofepilepsyinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune4,2021. WilfongA.Seizuresandepilepsyinchildren:Initialtreatmentandmonitoring.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune4,2021. CrepeauAZ,etal.Managementofadultonsetseizures.MayoClinicProceedings.2017;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.11.013. LyonsMK.Deepbrainstimulation:Currentandfutureclinicalapplications.MayoClinicProceedings.2011;https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2011.0045. SchachterSC.Comorbiditiesandcomplicationsofepilepsyinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune4,2021. EnglotDJ,etal.Seizureoutcomesinnonresectiveepilepsysurgery:Anupdate.NeurosurgicalReview.2017;doi:10.1007/s10143-016-0725-8. Externaltrigeminalnervestimulation.EpilepsyFoundation.http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/devices/external-trigeminal-nerve-stimulation.AccessedJune4,2021. RigginEAAllscriptsEPSi.MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Jan.22,2020. FisherRS,etal.OperationalclassificationofseizuretypesbytheInternationalLeagueAgainstEpilepsy:PositionpaperoftheILAECommissionforclassificationandterminology.Epilepsia.2017;doi:10.1111/epi.13670. LundstromBN,etal.Chronicsubthresholdcorticalstimulation:Atherapeuticandpotentiallyrestorativetherapyforfocalepilepsy.ExpertReviewofNeurotherapeutics.2017;doi:10.1080/14737175.2017.1331129. VanGompelJJ(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.May30,2018. MoellerJ,etal.VideoandambulatoryEEGmonitoringinthediagnosisofseizuresandepilepsy.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedJune4,2021. BurkholderDB(expertopinion).MayoClinic.July20,2021. LabinerDM,etal.Essentialservices,personnel,andfacilitiesinspecializedepilepsycenters–Revised2010guidelines.Epilepsia.2010;doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02648.x. Findanepilepsycenter.NationalAssociationofEpilepsyCenters.https://www.naec-epilepsy.org/about-epilepsy-centers/find-an-epilepsy-center/.AccessedJune4,2021. NairDR,etal.Nine-yearprospectiveefficacyandsafetyofbrain-responsiveneurostimulationforfocalepilepsy.Neurology.2020;doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000010154. MonteithS,etal.Transcranialmagneticresonance–guidedfocusedultrasoundfortemporallobeepilepsy:Alaboratoryfeasibilitystudy.JournalofNeurosurgery.2016;doi:10.3171/2015.10.JNS1542. FregniF,etal.Arandomizedclinicaltrialofrepetitivetranscranialmagneticstimulationinpatientswithrefractoryepilepsy.AnnalsofNeurology,2006;doi:10.1002/ana.20950. Related EpilepsyFAQs Explainingepilepsy Infographic:AdultEpilepsy:PinpointingSeizures Infographic:ElectricalBrainStimulationforEpilepsy Infographic:EpilepsyandBrainMapping Infographic:PediatricEpilepsyEarlyIntervention MayoClinicMinute:Demystifyingepilepsy MRIofdeepbrainstimulation Neurontinsideeffects:HowdoImanagethem? Pacemakerforepilepsy Showmorerelatedcontent AssociatedProcedures CTscan EEG(electroencephalogram) Epilepsysurgery MRI Positronemissiontomographyscan SPECTscan Vagusnervestimulation Showmoreassociatedprocedures NewsfromMayoClinic ExpertAlert:Lasertherapybringstheheattominimallyinvasiveepilepsytreatment  April29,2022,03:30p.m.CDT MayoClinicMinute:Usinglasersonthebraintotreatseizures April29,2022,02:30p.m.CDT ResponsiveneurostimulationhelpsCarlosMartinezhelpotherswithepilepsy March25,2022,03:30p.m.CDT MayoClinicMinute:Whatisa'brainpacemaker?' Feb.21,2022,03:00p.m.CDT Seizureforecastingwithwrist-worndevicespossibleforpeoplewithepilepsy,studyshows Nov.09,2021,06:00p.m.CDT Mayo,GoogleResearchdevelopnewAIalgorithmtoimprovebrainstimulationdevicestotreatdisease Sept.03,2021,04:28p.m.CDT SharingMayoClinic:Nowseizurefree,epilepsypatientwantstosharehermusic April18,2021,12:05p.m.CDT Innovativetreatmentbringsrelieftomanwhoexperiencedhundredsofseizuresdaily Jan.28,2021,08:04p.m.CDT MayoClinicQ&Apodcast:Findingrelieffromepilepticseizures Nov.25,2020,02:00p.m.CDT MayoClinicQ&Apodcast:EpilepsyAwarenessMonth Nov.16,2020,09:00p.m.CDT MayoClinicQandA:Treatmentsotherthanmedicationcanbeeffectivefordrug-resistantepilepsy Nov.10,2020,11:23p.m.CDT Epilepsyandseizuredisorderawareness Nov.03,2020,08:18p.m.CDT ShowmorenewsfromMayoClinic Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic MayoClinicinRochester,Minn.,andMayoClinicinJacksonville,Fla.,havebeenrankedamongthebestNeurology&Neurosurgeryhospitalsinthenationfor2021-2022byU.S.News&WorldReport. Learnmoreaboutthistophonor EpilepsySymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBook-MayoClinicPressNEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBookMayoCliniconIncontinence-MayoClinicPressMayoCliniconIncontinenceNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalance-MayoClinicPressNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalanceFREEMayoClinicDietAssessment-MayoClinicPressFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook-MayoClinicPressMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook CON-20117122 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Epilepsy