What is Epilepsy?
Colloquially known as seizure disorder, "epilepsy" describes a diverse group of disorders that are characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 3 million Americans
and as many as 65 million people worldwide. The Epilepsy Foundation states that one in 10 people will have a seizure at some time in their life; one in 100 people will develop epilepsy. The precise etiology that leads to epilepsy is largely unknown
in the majority of patients, although genetic, metabolic, post-traumatic and structural causes have been identified.
Although epilepsy affects people of all ages, children represent up to 30% of those diagnosed. Seizures during this
crucial time in brain development are often associated with life-long cognitive deficits. These deficits are often more detrimental to quality of life than the seizures themselves, but unfortunately often go untreated. Our group seeks to understand
the underlying mechanism behind these cognitive deficits, with the goal of eventually identifying effective treatment strategies to improve the lives of patients with epilepsy.