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Epilepsy is a
condition in which someone has unprovoked seizures at two or more separate times in their
life. |
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A seizure is an
abnormal electrical discharge within the brain resulting in involuntary change in
movement, sensation, perception, behavior, and/or level of a consciousness. |
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In
industrialized countries, between one and two percent of the population have
epilepsy. In the United States approximately 3 million people have
epilepsy. |
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In
non-industrialized countries the rate of incidence is as high as ten percent. |
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Ninety percent
of those with epilepsy have normal IQ's. |
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As
many as sixty
percent of those who have epilepsy do no have their seizures completely controlled. |
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Mortality from epilepsy is between 20,000
and 40,000 yearly. This rivals AIDS, or breast cancer, or automobile
accident deaths. |
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Causes of epilepsy include head injury,
tumor, stroke, infection, genetics, and as many as 70% of epilepsy
sufferers have no known
cause. |
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Treatments include medications, surgery,
ketogenic diet, and Vagus nerve stimulation via an implanted device. |
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Epilepsy
affects more Americans than Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS and HIV combined. |
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Epilepsy is
still a "hidden disease." The public is very unaware of
the difficulties and burdens shouldered by epilepsy patients, their
families and caregivers. |
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For over half of those with epilepsy, drugs do not
completely control their
seizures. For many more, drugs are not the ideal solution because of side
effects or other limitations. |
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Surgery is an
appropriate treatment for very few, so with the side effects and inefficiency of drugs,
we need other choices for treatment.
A cure for epilepsy would be even better! |
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The
socioeconomic and psychological factors can negatively impact quality of life as much or
more than the seizures themselves. |
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Many people
with epilepsy are unemployed or sub-employed as a result of the unpredictability of
seizures and/or effects of medication. |
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The
unpredictability of seizures, which last seconds, leads to a lifetime of potential
disability. |
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The financial
impact of this disorder (both direct and indirect) on the individuals, families and
society is difficult to total but is estimated at $12.5 billion annually
in the U.S. alone. It includes medical expenses, drugs, lost income and
productivity from unemployment and sub-employment, social services, and much more. |
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There are as
many as three million with epilepsy in the U.S. and 60 million worldwide.
Epilepsy truly lacks a voice. |
