Epilepsy is a physical condition characterized by sudden, brief changes in how the brain works. Approximately 1% of the population, about 300,000 Canadians, has epilepsy. About 60% of new patients are young children (under the age of 10) and senior citizens (over the age of 60).
Epilepsy is a symptom of a neurological disorder - a disorder of excessive electrical discharge that affects the brain and shows itself in the form of seizures. In most cases, epilepsy is not hereditary. Although epilepsy can strike anyone at any age, persons who develop seizures during their formative years tend to experience a reduction in the intensity and frequency of their seizures as they grow older. In approximately 50% of cases of childhood epilepsy, seizures disappear completely.
Anticonvulsant drug therapy has dramatically improved prospects for people with epilepsy. None of the existing drugs can cure epilepsy, but carefully-prescribed and well-followed regimens of medication have become increasingly successful in preventing seizures. The right medication can greatly improve a person's ability to lead a full, active life.
