Jing-Jing Zhou Devin Lewis

Karen Tran Julie Nyguen

Samy Pourali

Seizure: sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain.

Epilepsy: a brain disorder in which nerve cells of the brain, from time to time, release abnormal electrical impulses.

Impulses from one neuron to another are sent at 500 times a second instead of the normal 80 times a second.

GeneticGenetic Brain tumorsBrain tumors Viral infectionsViral infections Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease Trauma during birthTrauma during birth Strokes &heart attacksStrokes &heart attacks High blood pressureHigh blood pressure AIDSAIDS Hormonal changesHormonal changes Lack of sleepLack of sleep

AlcoholismAlcoholism PoisonPoison Nicotine from cigarette Nicotine from cigarette

smokesmoke Head trauma from Head trauma from

accidents or fallsaccidents or falls Overmedicating from Overmedicating from

certain types of drugscertain types of drugs

More common among More common among men than women men than women

Common in children Common in children and adolescents and adolescents

2.5 million Americans 2.5 million Americans have been treated for have been treated for epilepsy in the past 5 epilepsy in the past 5 years. That's 8 or 9 out years. That's 8 or 9 out of every 1,000 peopleof every 1,000 people

Symptoms: convulsions, muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, seizures, strange sensations, strange behavior, and strange emotions

Diagnosis: MRI scan and EEG

Partial Epilepsy Occur in one side of

brain. 60% suffer from this

type. Sensations, feelings,

smells and sounds. Petit Mal: “little bad”,

mild seizures

Generalized EpilepsyGeneralized Epilepsy neurons abnormal firing neurons abnormal firing

through the whole brain through the whole brain Grand Mal: The most Grand Mal: The most

severe case. Broken severe case. Broken bones from severe bones from severe muscle contractions.muscle contractions.

No cure for epilepsyNo cure for epilepsy Anti-epileptic and anti-Anti-epileptic and anti-

convulsant medicationsconvulsant medications Surgery for tumorsSurgery for tumors Ketogenic Diet: Rich in Ketogenic Diet: Rich in

fat and low fat and low carbohydratescarbohydrates

80% remain seizure-free for two years.

50-60% will be seizure-free after their first series of medications.

11-20% after second series of medication.

20-30% remaining continue to have seizures

Seizure-Free by Taking Medication

Second Time, 15%

Never30%

First Time, 55%

First TimeSecond TimeNever

Most people lead normal lives.

Limit their independence (driving)

In danger of:

1.status epilepticus

2.sudden unexplained death

Epilepsy therapy & improving anti-epileptic medications.

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) in Chicago

Epilepsy Foundation in Maryland Parents Against Childhood Epilepsy (PACE) Epilepsy Institute in New York City