Neurosurgery and Brain Health Medical Mondays: Epilepsy By Neurosurgery, June 8, 2015 The battle against epilepsy can be challenging. Often, people jump from medication to medication, with little hope that their seizures will decrease, let alone stop completely. Yet, it’s not commonly known that people who have failed just two epilepsy medications can be referred to a comprehensive epilepsy center, like the one at UPMC, for a surgical evaluation. In this week’s Medical Mondays video, you’ll learn about: Complications associated with epilepsy When it’s appropriate to consider epilepsy surgery How UPMC surgeons determine what area of the brain are causing seizures How epilepsy surgery can result in patients becoming seizure free Interested in a more personal view on living with epilepsy? Visit Katrina’s blog, featured in this week’s Medical Mondays, where she documents her journey with epilepsy and shares important awareness and advocacy information. For more information on epilepsy treatment at UPMC, visit our department website or call 1-877-986-9862 to schedule an appointment. Brain Mapping Pinpoints Source of Epileptic Seizures To help pinpoint the source of these electrical bursts in the brain, doctors use a process called brain mapping. By viewing and stimulating different areas of the brain, the doctor can map out what areas of the brain control what functions of the body. This process identifies abnormalities, tumors, lesions, or injuries in the brain, as well as any unusual activity. Read more to discover the types of brain scans used in brain mapping and why they are so important. Read More What’s the Difference Between Epileptic and Non-Epileptic Seizures? Not all seizures are caused by faulty electrical signals in the brain, which causes epilepsy. Epileptic and non-epileptic seizures may have similar symptoms, but their causes can be very different. The best way to determine the cause is to visit your doctor. Read more to discover the differences between epileptic and non-epileptic seizures. Read More Find the Best Epilepsy Treatment for You Epilepsy is different for everyone, but it’s common for people living with it to feel nervous, embarrassed, or even angry. Facing the possibility of having seizures is stressful and interferes with your daily activities. To return to a normal life, it’s important to understand the causes of your seizures and to find an appropriate treatment to reduce or eliminate them. Read more to discover the treatment options available for epilepsy. Read More Epilepsy Causes and Seizure Triggers Most people don’t know why they have epilepsy, but understanding the causes and triggers of seizures can help you lessen the frequency and feel more in control. Your doctor will perform tests and brain scans to help determine possible epilepsy causes and work with you to develop a treatment plan to manage your epilepsy. Read more to discover common seizure triggers and warning signs. Read More Adult Epilepsy and Mental Health Although the reasons aren’t clearly understood, epilepsy seems to be linked with many mental health issues. People with epilepsy have higher rates of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, or depression than adults without epilepsy. At the same time, people with ADHD, autism, or depression also seem to have a higher risk for epileptic seizures. Read more to discover how epilepsy and mental health intersect. Read More Infographic: Epilepsy Causes and Risk Factors Epilepsy affects 65 million people worldwide, but the cause is unknown in 60 percent of cases. The neurological disorder is caused by a disruption in electrical signals in the brain, which often results in seizures, unusual behavior or loss of consciousness. Read more to discover the risk factors, common triggers and causes of epilepsy. Read More
