Science For Health Care

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder which causes seizures.

One in 133 people in the UK has epilepsy, and at any one time 300,000 have an active form of the condition.

What causes epilepsy?

An epileptic seizure is caused by over-activity of the brain cells, which produces a surge of electricity.

This may be due to a variety of factors, such as brain damage from birth injuries, head injury, stroke, brain tumours and alcoholism.

There is some evidence to suggest the condition sometimes has a genetic basis – although it is rare for it to run in families.

In many instances, the cause of the condition is a mystery.

Epilepsy is caused by surges of electrical activity