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Hannah Abraham
EPILEPSY

What I Already Knew / What I Wanted to Know

What is it like to have Epilepsy? I often asked myself this question while listening to my
grandmother talk about her symptoms. I grew up knowing about Epilepsy, but not knowing what
it is. I took it upon myself to look for the answers to the questions I was so stuck on. This topic
is relevant locally and globally because it effects a large number of people. It is important
professionally because medical professionals could start learning what things they can start doing
differently so that they can perform a brain surgery to increase the effectiveness of curing
Epilepsy.
I already knew that Epilepsy was a brain disorder that caused seizures and that my
grandmother had to take special medications to help her not have seizures. I also knew that it
was a bad idea to try and drive a car when a person has Epilepsy because they could have a
seizure at the wheel and end up killing themselves and many others. Unknown (2015) found that
for many people with epilepsy, the risk of seizures restricts their independence, in particular the
ability to drive.
This topic is relevant to me because I wanted to know more about the topic seeing as how
my grandmothers daughter and son, my aunt and uncle, have epilepsy and I wanted to know if I
could become diagnosed with it as well. I wanted to know exactly what happens to the brain
during a seizure. How a person gets epilepsy, and are they born with it? What causes seizures?
Is there a way to tell if someone will get Epilepsy? Are there cures for Epilepsy?
After I looked at all of my inquiry questions, I formed an umbrella question that would
encompass all of my inquiry questions well enough: What is Epilepsy? I cant say that Im a

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professional now, but Im pretty sure that whatever question you have about Epilepsy and
seizures, I would be able to answer.
The Story of My Search
In my Independent Research class I was asked to begin researching a topic I was
interested in. I had a lot of trouble trying to think of topics that would have a lot of smaller
questions that needed to be answered in order to understand the big picture. Then it came to me!
I have always wanted to know about what exactly Epilepsy was and how it affected my family
members, so this opportunity was perfect!
To be able to answer all of my inquiry questions, it took about three and a half weeks to a
month. I began my research by searching on google my umbrella question, from there it took me
several different ways. I found a specific definition for Epilepsy and made sure to look back at it
every time I came across a new website. I did this to make sure the website was a true and
reliable source.
The information I got from websites was basically the only information I used to
complete my research. There was one site in particular called Epilepsy.com. This website was
very helpful because it had several links and search menus so that I could close to all of the
information that I needed for each of my questions.
As I began to have my inquiry questions answered, I wrote my questions and answers on
my blog so that I could revisit the answers later for things such as writing this paper. By the end
of my research I had enough information to present my findings, which is why I am writing this
paper.

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Hannah Abraham
The Results
According to my findings, Epilepsy, which means "seizure disorder", is a chronic brain-

receptor disorder that results from recurrent seizures over a period of time. Epilepsy is also the
fourth most common neurological disorder of people in all ages, affecting over three million
people in the Unites States alone. Seizures can range from minor muscle jerks to serious
lengthened convulsions. The seizure is an episode of brain function that is altered and is
corresponding to a change in the electrical activity of the tissue.
A seizure is somewhat like having a heart attack, but to the brain because it is completely
unknown of when a seizure could happen. (Unknown) explained that these convulsions are
caused by disproportionate, sudden electrical entities within a certain group of brain cells (para.
2). During a seizure, nerve cells leave their normal activities, and fire in massive, synchronized
bursts of electrical pulses that aren't supposed to happen. These electrical entities happen within
the brain tissue which is why the body is hindered in its activity during this time. These episodes
associated with Epilepsy are caused by either a brain injury or it could be hereditary; the exact
cause of Epilepsy is unknown.
A person is diagnosed with Epilepsy after they have had at least two seizures that were
not the result of a known medical condition like alcohol or drug withdrawal or extremely low
blood sugar. As mentioned previously, a seizure is not predictable, it is completely unknown of
when a person will get a seizure. Although the exact cause of Epilepsy is unknown, studies show
that for a person with relatives that have seizures, it is more likely for them to have seizures
themselves. Recent studies have shown that it is possible for generalized Epilepsy to be
contracted due to genetics, but these studies are not yet proven.

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Once a person is diagnosed with Epilepsy, they can be treated with medicines known as

anticonvulsants that help decrease certain brain receptors activities. These medicines include
Dilantin, Phenytek, Tegretol, Keppra and Lyrica. The choice of medication that is prescribed by
the patient's doctor is most often based on factors like the patient's tolerance of side effects and
the medication's delivery method. Side effects can range from fatigue and sleepiness to hair loss
and weight gain. The side effects are usually based on the patient's body composition and other
unique bodily features that always varies from patient to patient. While taking a medication for
Epilepsy, one could only take it for a few years or one could have to take it for the rest of their
lives once diagnosed with Epilepsy. However, if a person has been seizure free for at least ten
years, the doctor of the patient should consider taking the patient off of the medication, or maybe
switching to a safer or less-likely-to-damage-the-liver medication.
Another interesting fact is that if the father of a child has Epilepsy, they are a bit more
likely to develop Epilepsy than if their mother had Epilepsy. However, the risk that a parent with
Epilepsy passing it on to their child is 5 out of 100; still really low compared to other diseases.
Epilepsy is most common in children under ten years old. This is because, when some children
are born, they suffer head trauma in their first year due to either something going wrong in their
delivery or accidents during this first year of life. Even though there is not necessarily a way to
tell when or if a person will get Epilepsy, birth is a good place to start looking if the person is
developing symptoms of seizures. Seizures can be caused from this kind of brain trauma in early
childhood. Fisher (n.d.) said that new cases of epilepsy are most common among children,
especially during the first year (para. 3). But, when a child contracts Epilepsy at a very young
age such as one or two years of age, Epilepsy usually dissipates and calms down and eventually
levels out by the time the child reaches age ten.

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There are many different causes for seizures ranging from alcohol withdrawal and drug

abuse to brain defects present at birth and electrolyte imbalance. Considering how a person can
get Epilepsy is also closely related to these topics. Sirven (2013) said that for about 3 percent
of people with epilepsy, exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or to certain visual
patterns can trigger seizures, (para. 1). In this case, a person with photosensitive Epilepsy will
have a seizure from exposure to flashing lights or certain images. It's not just because of the
specific light or image that causes a seizure, it all has to do with the frequency, wavelength, and
brightness of the light or image being seen by the photosensitive Epileptic to have a seizure.
These certain light waves and image patterns can be present in video games, television shows,
concerts, and in everyday life.
There are over forty different types of seizures known to scientists, but most are classified
into two categories; the Grand-Mal seizure group and the Petite-Mal seizure group. During a
Grand-Mal seizure a person will experience loss of consciousness which results in losing all
possible body functions including being able to hold in waste and saliva. During a Petite-Mal
seizure a person will experience Myoclonic Jerks, which are many seizures at one time but the
seizures aren't as severe as one Grand-Mal seizure. There are also several smaller groups that
seizures are categorized into; such as, absence seizures and psychomotor seizures to name a
couple.
There are no found cures for Epilepsy, but scientists are working toward making more
effective medication for Epileptics. There is a surgery to correct Epilepsy, however, for thirty
percent of people who actually receive the surgery, it doesn't work. Surgery can only be initiated
if there is a node or focal point, called the seizure focus. Scientists find the seizure focal point by
using neuro-electrical scans to pinpoint the location in which the electrical entities are being

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clustered during a seizure. Doctors make the patient have a seizure on purpose to do this study.
If the focal point can be removed safely from the brain or there is a safe area to implant a device
to decrease the level of electrical activity in that area, then doctors will consider the surgery.
Whats Next?
By writing and researching these inquiry questions, my researching skills have been
greatly improved. I can now be assigned a research project and not be stressed out over it
because in reality, its simple. I can also better decipher the differences between credible and
non-credible websites as well. In my future career I hope to become more familiar with the brain
and its activities. It would be a great experience for me to get to know firsthand a medical
professional whom would help me along with my future endeavor such as someone who would
be willing to be a mentor for my senior project, who knows. The future holds many possibilities.

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Hannah Abraham
References

Fisher, R. S., & Saul M. (n.d.). What causes epilepsy. Sanford.

http://neurology.stanford.edu/epilepsy/patientcare/videos/e_05.html
Sirven, J. I. (2013). Photosensitivity and seizures. Epilepsy.com.
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/photosensitivity-and-seizures
Unknown. (2015). Seizures and epilepsy: hope through research.
NINDS.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/detail_epilepsy.htm#273303109
Unknown. (n.d.). Seizures and neurological disorders. The Sturge Weber Foundation.
http://www.sturge-weber.org/medical-matters/seizures-and-neurological-issues.html