Can Epilepsy Be Cured?

Can Epilepsy Be Cured?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the CNS, in which the neuronal activity is distorted, causing periods of unusual activity or seizures, and loss of consciousness. The symptoms of the seizure vary widely. Some people with the epilepsy simply stare for few seconds blankly during a seizure, while others twitch their arms and legs repeatedly. According to a report, 2 million people in United States are being diagnosed with epilepsy or have experienced an unprovoked seizure. Unfortunately, if you or any dear one of you has been diagnosed with epilepsy, you will be keen to know the answers of the questions like, "Can epilepsy be cured?" In this article,you will find the answer and the remedies and treatments of the epilepsy will be discussed in detail.

Can Epilepsy Be Cured?


Epilepsy cannot be totally treated in real sense of term because like Hypertension, Asthma and Diabetes mellitus, it is a disease which can only be controlled. Fortunately, 75% of the seizures with epilepsy can be totally controlled. And after having anti-epileptic treatments, the seizures stop and need no further treatment in some cases, especially in children. And on the other side, you should know some fits are even not cured after surgery. So you need not to lose hope by the diagnosis of epilepsy, it can be controlled well and will not affect your normal life.

So, How to Treat Epilepsy
There are some really helpful treatments of epilepsy. On first step, medication is given; if medication doesn’t treat the condition, then surgery or other types of treatments can be proposed.

1. Medicines
Can epilepsy be cured? The answer has been cleared above. As that been said, it can be totally controlled with medications. The first choice of treatment of epilepsy is usually anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Seizures in the 70% of the epileptic patients can be cured by the use of AEDs. Anti-epileptic drugs do not cure epilepsy, but only prevent the reoccurrence of seizures in patients. These AEDs are of different types, and they usually perform their function by changing the levels of chemicals in the brain that conduct the electrical impulses. In this way, the chances of seizure are reduced. Commonly used AEDs are carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, sodium valproate, lamotrigine, ethosuximide and topiramate.

Usually, the choice of the medications is made according to the severity of the seizures and the previous history of the patient. Mostly patients are treated with one or maximally two AEDs. The treatment duration depends upon the type of epilepsy, age of patient and the control of the seizures, etc. However, the treatment should be continued for 3 years after the control of the seizures. It should never be stopped suddenly and must only be stopped after consulting the doctor.

2. Surgery
Surgery is recommended to those patients whose tests show that their seizures originate in a small area of the brain that does not interfere with the vital functions of speech, vision, hearing, language and motor functions. The brain area causing seizures is removed by the doctor during the surgery. If the area of seizures origin is a part of brain controlling the movements, speech and other functions, then you may be awake during the surgery. The group of surgeons performing your surgery will monitor and ask you questions during the procedure.

There can be such a situation that the brain tissue causing the seizures is placed in an area which can't be removed, then the doctors pursue for a different type of surgery, in which multiple cuts are given in the brain (multiple subpial transaction). The arrangement of cuts is so designed to prevent the seizures from spreading to other areas of brain.

After the surgery, the patients are advised to take the medicines for a prescribed time period to avoid the recurrence of the seizures. The dosage can be reduced afterwards.In few cases, the surgery of epilepsy can cause complications like permanently altering cognitive abilities.

So, can epilepsy be cured by surgery? Like medication, it controls epilepsy, instead of curing it.

3. Alternative Procedures

• Vagus nerve stimulation

Vagus nerve stimulation involves the surgical implantation of small electrical device, similar to the pacemaker, under the skin near the clavicle (collar bone).

The device is attached to the wire that is wrapped around the vagus nerve in the neck region. It passes regular dose of electrical stimulation to the nerve. The stimulation of the nerve can reduce the severity and frequency of the seizures. If the patient feels the warning signs and symptoms of the seizures, he can activate the extra burst of stimulation to the nerve, which can prevent the occurrence of seizures.

The exact mechanism involved behind it is still not known, but it is thought that the stimulation of vagus nerve alters the chemical transmissions in the brain. Most people having undergone vagus nerve stimulation also need to take AEDs.

• Deep Brain Stimulation

In this technique, electrodes are implanted into the specific areas of the brain for the reduction of abnormal electrical activity associated with the seizures. These electrodes are controlled by external device, which is implanted beneath the skin of the chest, and is always kept on. Frequency of seizures can be reduced by it but bleeding on brain, Depression and memory loss may occur as side effects.

4. Ketogenic Diets
Can epilepsy be cured by ketogenic diets? Like other methods, it just controls the symptoms. Ketogenic diet is a diet containing high fatty content and lower carbohydrates and protein, and it is assumed that ketogenic diet makes seizures happen less by altering the chemical composition of the brain. Before the invention of AEDs, these diets were used as remedies, but now, these are not recommended to the adults due to the facts that severity of fats are related to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

However, these are sometimes advised for the children with epilepsy, because the children with seizures difficult to be controlled by AEDs can benefitfrom this diet, without worrying too much about possible side effects. But the use of ketogenic diet should only be advised by the epilepsy specialist doctor with the help of dietician.

The video below tells the first aid of epilepsy that you should know.

How Is Epilepsy Diagnosed?

How Is Epilepsy Diagnosed?

Epilepsy is among the common conditions that affect the brain. In the United States, approximately, 5.1 million people including both children and adults have a history of epilepsy and approximately 2.9 million are still suffering for it. It is difficult to quickly diagnose epilepsy. In majority of the cases, the confirmed diagnosis cannot be made until more than one seizure is present. Many other conditions such as panic attacks and Migraines may cause similar symptoms as epilepsy. A person having a seizure is referred to a neurologist to aid in diagnosis.

How Is Epilepsy Diagnosed?
The aim of diagnosing epilepsy is to determine the type of seizures and the cause behind them. The diagnosing methods are as follows:

1. Medical History
The diagnosis of seizures depends on the medical history of the patients along with any family history of seizures, current medicines and associated medical ailments. The descriptions of persons who have seen the patient having seizures are also helpful in the diagnosis of epilepsy, especially if the patient has lost consciousness. Some of the important questions that the doctor would ask the patient may include:

• What was your age at the onset of seizures?


• Under what circumstances, did the first seizure occur?


• What factors are linked to the occurrence of seizures?


• What do you feel before, during and after a seizure?


• What is the duration of a seizure?


• Have you undergone treatment of epilepsy before?


• What medicines were prescribed previously and in what doses?


• Are the medicines effective in treating the seizures?

2. Neurological Exam
Tests of brain functions are often included in the diagnosis of epilepsy. A neurological exam is used to detect abnormalities or problems in brain. The following are often included in a neurological exam:

• A memory test to find out the person's ability of remembering words;


• A test to measure the ability of naming and recalling certain objects;


• Simple calculations and math;


• Muscle function test by walking a couple of steps;


• Tests of reflexes;


• Sensory tests to detect which senses have been adversely affected by epilepsy.

Neurological exam can aid in determining if the brain has been damaged. For example, if a patient has trouble in recalling words, names or objects or has difficulty in figuring out the day or month during a test. A noticeable difference in gait when walking or weakness on one side or a part of the body may indicate problems with brain like epilepsy that needs medical attention.

3. Blood Test
A number of blood tests are recommended to find answer to the question "How is epilepsy diagnosed?"

Types of Blood Tests

• Your physician may order a complete blood count or CBC. Under the CBC the following are measured: red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean corpuscular volume.


• Chemistry panel is another important blood test. Under this panel sodium, blood sugar and potassium levels are evaluated. A complete metabolic panel includes liver and kidney function tests.


• Various other tests may be ordered including blood levels of medicines you are taking to control seizures.

Function of Blood Test:

• Your physician can assess how your overall health is;


• Identify ailments such as anemia, infections or Diabetes that may be the cause of seizures;


• Identify conditions affecting liver or kidney;


• Monitor the occurrence of possible side effect of medicines.

4. The Spinal Tap
Spinal tap, also referred to as lumbar puncture, is also a test to diagnose epilepsy. The spinal tap helps in ruling out infections including Encephalitis or Meningitis as the cause of seizures.

How to Do

You will be asked to lie down on your side, the knees drawn close to the chest and the chin. Your back is cleaned with an antiseptic and a local anesthetic injected. Once the area is numb, a needle is inserted between 2 lumbar vertebrae. Once the spinal canal is penetrated, spinal fluid is collected. Then the needle is removed and the area covered with sterile bandage.

5. EEG Test
How is epilepsy diagnosed? Use EEG, which is one of the most common tests to diagnose epilepsy. This test requires attachment of electrodes to a person’s scalp with a pasty substance. The electrical activity of the brain is recorded by the electrodes. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of brain waves is changed.

6. CT Scan
During a CT scan, X-rays are used to produce cross-sectional images of the brain. It is used to diagnose the abnormalities in the brain that may be causing seizures including bleeding, Tumors and cysts.

7. MRI
During an MRI, radio waves and powerful magnets are used to obtain a detailed view of the brain. The abnormalities of the brain that may be leading to seizures can be detected during an MRI.

8. FMRI
During a functional MRI, the changes in the flow of blood in specific parts of brain that are working are monitored. FMRI is often used before surgery for the identification of the exact location of critical functions so as to avoid injuring these regions during surgery.

9. SPECT
The last answer to "How is epilepsy diagnosed?" is SPECT. Single photon emission computed tomography or SPECT is used when the exact cause of seizures is not identified with an EEG and MRI. During the test a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein and a detailed 3D view of the brain is created during seizures.

If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, get a general idea about how to treat epilepsy from the video below:

Famous People with Epilepsy

Famous People with Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. Many manage to control this condition with medication, but there is no cure for epilepsy. Surgery may be used to help manage extreme cases of this disease. Listed below are famous people that have epilepsy and how they have overcome this condition to leave a significant impact on the world.

Neil Young


Musician Neil Young is known for his powerful lyrics and is often noted as one of the greatest guitarists from his time. Young also acts as a spokesman for environmental issues and acts as a peacekeeper, using his music as a way to speak out against injustice. Neil Young has suffered from many medical obstacles including polio, epilepsy and diabetes.

The following video showcases Neil Young in concert in 1971:

Hugo Weaving


Stage and voice actor Hugo Weaving is best known for his role as leader of the elves in Lord of the Rings or the virtual, invincible villain in The Matrix. Weaving was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 13 and due to this condition he cannot drive.

Richard Burton


Burton was once the highest paid actor in Hollywood, famed for his distinctive voice. Epilepsy Plagued him all his life, and he eventually fell into deep Alcoholism trying to control his seizures. This led to manic Depression which he refused to treat because he did not trust doctors. In some cases he seemed to be scared of Mental Illness than his epilepsy.

Danny Glover


Danny Glover acted in Lethal Weapon alongside Mel Gibson as well as in Predator 2. Glover was noted for having dyslexia in school, causing his school staff to label him retarded. He revealed on an episode of the Rosie O’Donnell Show that he was diagnosed with epilepsy at 15. The early development of this disease caused him to experience six seizures in a row during a family cross-country trip.

Chanda Gunn


American hockey player Chanda Gunn won bronze at the Winter Olympics in 2006 in spite of suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy. Gunn is determined to make the most of each day and faces life with zest. In addition to her metal at the Olympics, Gunn was the first player to be a finalist for both the Humanitarian Award for college hockey’s finest citizen and the Patty Kazmaier Award for best female hockey player in the nation.

Theodore Roosevelt


Roosevelt served as a historian, soldier, naturalist, explorer, Governor of New York, author and President of the United States from October 27, 1858- January 6, 1919. He suffered from epileptic seizures, Asthma and poor eyesight, but still had a great personal strength and courage that many admired.

Bud Abbott

American comedian, producer and actor Bud Abbott would often try to hide the fact that he had epilepsy. He suffered from this disease his whole life and eventually started trying to control it with alcohol. His alcoholism eventually caused him tax issues with the IRS, leading him to go bankrupt.

Alfred Nobel


Swedish engineer, chemist, innovator, inventor of dynamite and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel was plagued with epileptic seizures as a child. He wrote of these agonies in a poem which is often quoted today. Alfred Nobel outlined the foundations for the Nobel Prize in his will in 1895 which dedicated much of his estate to establishing the prize.

Vincent Van Gogh

The passionate artists Vincent Van Gogh believed in expressing all emotions through color. His epilepsy symptoms once caused him to chase his friends with a razor and then cut off part of his earlobe. He later shot himself, believing this course of action to be “for the good of all.” He is now remembered through his many colorful paintings.

Lord Byron


Baron Byron of Rochdale in County Palatine of Lancaster is a well-known title from the Peerage of England. This title was founded in 1643 for Sir John Byron via letters patent. Sir John Byron was a cavalier general and a member of Parliament. Some biographies of Sir Byron imply that he suffered from epileptic seizures as some of his written passages speak of symptoms that are similar to those of epilepsy.

Edgar Allen Poe


Edgar Allen Poe was a literacy critic and author during the Romantic Movement. He has written many short stories and books known for their mysterious and macabre themes. He is often credited with inventing detective fiction. Many believe Poe’s mental instability stemmed from drug use, but today historians suspect that he may have had epilepsy that was undiagnosed, leading to frequent confusion.

Julius Caesar


In many portrayals, Julius Caesar is depicted as suffering from epilepsy. The famous movie Caesar and Cleopatra featuring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor shows Caesar fearing the likelihood that he would have an epileptic attack when he addressed the Roman populace. Wikipedia also notes that Caesar had four documented episodes of complete partial seizures, and may have also experienced seizures when he was young. Many historians argue that these seizures could have been caused by chills form Malaria or low blood sugar.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy






Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes a seizure due to abnormal nerve cell activity in the brain. The individual will experience peculiar sensations and abnormal symptoms during seizure and sometime he/she may lose consciousness. The symptoms of epilepsy vary from one person to the other. Epilepsy is a common disorder around the world and 1 out of 100 people may have a seizure at some point of his life. This disorder can be controlled by proper medications. Seizure is caused due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain is a clear symptom of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a group of disorders marked by recurrent seizures.

Symptoms :

Symptoms of seizure disorder vary from one individual to the other. Some of the signs of seizure are jerky movements of arms and legs (uncontrollable), confusion of thoughts, staring spell, loss of consciousness (temporary), and strange psychic symptoms. Epileptic seizures will have the same symptoms all the time unlike induced or psychological fit.

Types :

Non epileptic seizure will have the same symptoms of seizures but it is caused by psychological problems like emotional issues or stress. It can be managed by psychiatric drugs. Provoked seizure is a single episode of seizure induced by trauma or low blood sugar or low sodium or high fever or alcohol usage. Some children will have febrile seizures which they would overcome as they grow. In medical terms seizures are either classified as generalized or focal.

Focal seizures occur due to abnormal activity at some point of the brain and hence they are called as focused seizures. It can be simple focal seizure (marked by changing emotions and sensory perceptions) and dyscognitive focal seizure which is marked by loss of consciousness for some time. Generalized seizures is one in which all areas of the brain are affected.

Based on the symptoms they produce, generalized seizures are divided into 6 types :

• Absence seizure in which there is no jerk movement but the person will stare or blink for few seconds.


• Tonic seizure is one that causes muscle stiffness affecting the muscles of arms, legs and your back.


• Clonic seizure is characterized by jerking movements of the muscle of the face, arms, legs and neck.


• Myoclonic seizure is marked by sudden twitches of arms and legs.


• Atonic seizure makes the person to fall down due to loss of muscle control.


• Tonic- Clonic seizure is known as grand mal seizure which is marked by stiffening of body muscles, shaking of body, loss of consciousness and loss of bladder control.

Causes :

Epilepsy or seizure occurs due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. When the electric signals transmitted by the brain become erratic they create a typical “electrical storm” leading to seizure. Several factors can trigger epilepsy and for many people it can occur due to combination of one or more factors. Genetics can play a vital role in causing epilepsy since the seizure disorder run in families in many cases.

Trauma or injury on the head in childhood can cause seizure. Any type of brain injury or brain tumors can trigger epilepsy. Stroke is one of the major causes for epilepsy in adults. Certain infectious diseases like AIDS or Meningitis may cause seizure. Any type of prenatal injury caused to the baby can damage its brain leading to epilepsy. Certain kinds of developmental disorders like Autism may induce epilepsy. Certain diseases like Dementia can trigger epilepsy in older adults.

Complications :

Having an episode of seizure is not dangerous on its own, but it can cause serious injury if you are driving. You may fall down breaking a bone or cause head injury. People with epilepsy are likely to get drowned while swimming and hence they should avoid swimming alone.

Pregnant women with seizure episode can cause danger to the baby which can develop defects due to the heavy medications. Many people with seizure have increased risk of developing psychological problems like Depression or anxiety. Finally in rare cases epilepsy can cause sudden death termed as SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy).

Diagnoses :

The doctor will check the symptoms to find out the type of epilepsy you have. He may conduct neurological examination for testing the motor abilities and your mental function. EEG is the major test used for detecting epilepsy which records the sudden outburst of electrical activity in the brain. For some people CT or MRI scan is taken for detecting any abnormalities in the brain. In some cases, SPECT or PET scans are taken for ruling out any anomaly in the brain.

Treatment :

Most of the epilepsy can be managed by medications. Anti epileptic drugs are highly useful in managing the intensity of seizure episodes. If you are not having a single episode for more than 2 years, you can discontinue the medication for the rest of the life. Finding the right set of medications is a complex task. The doctor has to analyze the age of the person, his health condition, and type of seizure before prescribing the drug.

Some of the side effects of anti epileptic medications are dizziness, fatigue, weight gain, rash, reduced bone density, memory and cognitive problems, slurred speech and poor concentration. But not all the people who are taking medications will have the negative effects. Make sure that you are taking the exact medications as prescribed by your doctor and don’t stop the medication suddenly. In case of any emotional changes or new feelings of depression, you need to visit your doctor. This drug can create abnormal mood changes in many people.

Surgery is done only when the root cause of epilepsy is tumor or any infection in the brain. If the origin of seizure is from that part of the brain that is meant for speech, hearing and other motor functions then you may be kept awake for half of surgery so that your surgeon will closely monitor any changes. Sometimes you have to continue taking drugs even after surgery.

Alternative Treatment :

Vagus nerve stimulation : In this method, a small device will be implanted in the chest area which sends electrical energy to counteract with the sudden electrical waves sent from the brain.

Ketogenic Diet : A diet rich in fats is recommended which in turn breaks down the fat for generating energy which in turn will reduce the intensity of seizure.

Lifestyle Changes :

Without consulting your doctor, do not self medicate for treating seizure. You should sleep well and eat a healthy balanced diet. Wear a bracelet or medical card to know that you are prone to seizure so that you can be taken to the clinic in case of emergency.