What do you know about Epilepsy?

 

Short-Answer / True-False

6. Explain the difference between focal and generalized seizures.

7. True or False: One seizure is enough to diagnose someone with epilepsy.

8. List at least three possible causes or risk factors for epilepsy.

9. True or False: Sleep disturbance (too little or too much sleep) can be a trigger for seizures.

10. What is status epilepticus, and why is it considered an emergency?

Advanced / Essay-Style

11. Describe how classification of seizures has recently changed (e.g. via ILAE 2025 updates).

12. Discuss the role of genetics in epilepsy — what are current research directions?

13. Explain some of the non-motor triggers or contributing factors to epilepsy (e.g. psychological stress, co-morbid anxiety), and how they might interact with neurological mechanisms.

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✅ Suggested Text for Chapter 18: What Is Epilepsy? — Personal Experience Section

Epilepsy is a medical condition that has been known for centuries, but doctors and scientists still do not fully understand all its causes. It affects the brain and can begin for many different reasons — sometimes because of an injury, accident, infection, or lack of oxygen at birth.

People experience epilepsy in very different ways. For some, it may start early in life and then stop; for others, it may come and go throughout the years. Some people have seizures only once or twice, while others have them regularly. Sadly, in some cases, epilepsy can be life-threatening.

In my own experience, my epilepsy started from birth due to a lack of oxygen. I had seizures until I was 12 years old, then they disappeared for many years. When I was 31, they returned until I was 43 — and thankfully, I’ve been seizure-free since then. I once met someone who had their very first seizure during their first driving lesson, which shows just how unpredictable epilepsy can be. It really is a very strange condition that affects everyone differently.

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🎓 Epilepsy Quiz

(Questions only – answers are in the next section)

1. What part of the body does epilepsy mainly affect?

2. Can epilepsy begin for different reasons in different people? Give one example.

3. True or False: Doctors fully understand all the causes of epilepsy.

4. How can accidents or injuries sometimes lead to epilepsy?

5. What is the main difference between epilepsy and a one-time seizure?

6. Can epilepsy appear in childhood and later return in adulthood?

7. Name one possible trigger that might cause a seizure in some people.

8. What might happen to someone’s epilepsy over time — can it stop or come back?

9. True or False: Everyone with epilepsy experiences it in the same way.

10. Why is it important for people with epilepsy to have good medical support and understanding?

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🔍 What the Research Shows About Death Risk & Epilepsy

Here are some facts and figures:

• A large Denmark cohort study found that people with epilepsy live shorter lives on average — the reduction in life expectancy was about 10–12 years compared to people without epilepsy. OUP Academic+1

• The same study noted that mortality rates are two to three times higher in people with epilepsy than in the general population. NCBI+1

• A systematic review reported an average annual mortality rate of about 1.23% in people with epilepsy in studies included. SpringerLink

• Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a recognized cause of death in people with epilepsy. One estimate is about 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die annually from SUDEP. Wikipedia+1

• In some reports, untreated epilepsy or gaps in care may carry higher risks of death. International League Against Epilepsy

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⚠️ What to Keep in Mind

• Having epilepsy does not mean death is inevitable. Many people with epilepsy never die from it or live many years seizure-free.

• The risk depends on many factors:
  • how severe or frequent the seizures are
  • whether they’re controlled by medication
  • if there are other health problems (comorbidities)
  • the type of epilepsy / underlying cause
  • access to good medical care

• SUDEP is rare overall, but because it's not completely understood and is related to uncontrolled seizures, doctors often emphasize good seizure management and preventative measures.

• Mortality statistics often compare groups — so for some individuals, the risk could be far less than averages suggest, depending on their circumstances.

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If you like, I can gather more up-to-date mortality data (by country, by age group) for epilepsy, so you can include a chart or table in your Chapter 18. Would you like me to do that?