Epilepsy
Definition
Causes
According to the Epilepsy foundation, Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. A seizure is an abrupt surge of electrical activity in the brain that disrupts the normal communication between brain cells. The nature of a seizure depends on the specific area and extent of the brain affected by this electrical disturbance.
There is two types of seizures
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The generalized seizure: This one is the most obvious to bystanders in which the patient loses consciousness and has a convulsion. Typically they get stiff and begin to shake, it could last a minute or two.
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Complex Partial Seizure: This means the abnormal electrical activity is in a specific area of the brain. The person may appear to stare blankly and perform repetitive actions with their hands or mouth, like fiddling with clothes or smacking lips, but they are unaware of their actions. They might also experience unusual sensations, such as smelling things that aren’t there or feeling a rollercoaster-like sensation.
Certain types of epilepsy are inherited and can run in families. In other cases, brain abnormalities or structural differences may be present, which can lead to seizures. Abnormal brain areas or scarring in the temporal lobe can also trigger seizures. Doctors can trace epilepsy directly to genetics, brain trauma, autoimmune disorders, metabolic issues, or infectious diseases. If another medical condition, such as diabetes, was the cause, treatment for that condition will be necessary. Additionally, individuals who have had a stroke are at a higher risk of developing epilepsy. Not all seizures are the result of epilepsy, often the cause is unknown.
Comorbidity
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Febrile seizures
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Infections
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Brain tumors
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Congenital conditions (something you’re born with) like Down's syndrome, Angelman's syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and neurofibromatosis
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Head Trauma
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Progressive Brain disease
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Stroke
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Alzheimer's disease
Diagnosing
Epilepsy is diagnosed after multiple unprovoked seizures or after one seizure if there is a high risk of another or if a brain tumor or abnormality is present. Doctors assess possible triggers for seizures, including bloodwork, imaging (MRI, CT), and EEGs to identify underlying causes or abnormal brain activity. Further tests may be done to evaluate the risk of future seizures.
At IQRx, while we do not provide diagnoses, the fact is that many of our students come to us with previous diagnoses, including Epilepsy. We help children and adults with Epilepsy because we address the cognitive deficits that are commonly linked to this problem.
Treatment
Medication: When a patient is diagnosed with epilepsy, they are prescribed antiepileptic or antiseizure medications (AED) to reduce the risk of future seizures. These medications help prevent additional seizures in most cases. According to SIMED Health around 60 to 65% of individuals taking these drugs experience successful seizure control, while approximately 35% continue to have seizures despite the treatment. Patients who do not respond to medication have what is known as intractable or refractory epilepsy. If a person experiences seizures that aren’t controlled by medication, they might be having different types of convulsions. For instance, under high stress, they could experience pseudoseizures, which resemble actual seizures but are psychological responses to stress rather than neurological ones.
Surgery: If an EEG shows that seizures originate from the same part of the brain each time, surgery might be considered to cure the epilepsy. However, most patients can manage their seizures effectively with medication without the need for surgery.
Focusing on strengths: helps compensate for weak skills.
Tutoring: a short-term fix that can help students catch up (such as after an extended absence due to illness, injury or a family move) or when instruction is not the best. Nevertheless, if used regularly (not only for catching up due to special circumstances), the need for tutoring will continue since it is not targeting the root cause.
Accommodation: students and teachers adapt to, and work around, limitations. Some accommodations include: extra time, allowing use of calculators, adjusting difficulty of tasks, separating complicated problems into smaller steps, using visual aids to remind basic concepts, allowing the child to test alone in a private room, additional time, breaking the test in sections, simplifying instructions, seating in the front row among others, can sometimes help the student focus and prevent class disruptions.
Nutrition: You might also be able to reduce the frequency or severity of the symptoms by limiting the intake of foods containing non-organic dyes gluten or other particular diet considerations. Controlling sugar consumption can also be helpful as well as supplementing with Omegas. Including plenty of varied fruits and vegetables as well as non-processed foods is key to brain health. Ensuring appropriate hydration is also essential for brain function and overall health. IQRx works with our Juice Plus partners in improving nutrition and a healthy lifestyle (mdevarona.juiceplus.com). IQRx counts with support of a licensed nutritionist for additional consultations when needed.
Exercise: Physical exercise is also effective to manage some Epilepsy symptoms and overall brain health. Exercise has been found to reduce brain cell loss, reduce risk of depression and anxiety, and help you sleep better. Exercising regularly increases blood flow therefore achieving better brain oxygenation. Children should exercise 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous exercise including bone and muscle training at least 3 days a week. Adults should exercise at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (or 75 of vigorous exercise) and muscle strengthening twice a week.
Sleep Habits: Getting the proper amount of sleep is known to optimize mental functioning. While sleeping, the brain is regenerating neurons and consolidating memory. There are tables to offer guidance as to how much sleep is needed per age. In general, preschoolers (3 - 5 years old) require 10 - 13 hours a day including naps. Elementary students (6 - 12 years old) need 9 - 12 hours a day. Teenagers (13 - 18) need 8 - 10 hours a day and adults (> 18 years old) require at least 7 hours a day. There are natural ways to ensure proper sleep health such as using aromatherapy, essential oils, specific teas, white noise, ensuring no electronics are emitting light, removing mobile phones and other electronics from the room or not keeping them nearby, using melatonin.
Protecting the Brain: Wear helmets when riding bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, horses, etc., and when playing contact sports like football or rugby. Protect the brain from chemical contaminants in the environment as well as in food or by avoiding drugs, cigarette, and alcohol consumption.
Brain Training:
Some ways Brain training can help are:
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Cognitive Rehabilitation: Brain training exercises can improve cognitive functions like memory, attention, and problem-solving, which may be impacted by epilepsy and its treatments.
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Stress Reduction: Engaging in brain training activities can help reduce stress and anxiety, which are known triggers for seizures in some individuals.
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Mindfulness and Focus: Techniques within brain training often include mindfulness practices that enhance focus and mental clarity, potentially helping individuals manage their condition better.
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Building Coping Strategies: Skills learned through brain training can provide tools for coping with the challenges associated with epilepsy, such as fatigue and concentration difficulties.
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Neuroplasticity: Brain training can promote neuroplasticity, encouraging the brain to form new connections and potentially improving overall brain function.
Unlike tutoring, which focuses on specific academic subjects (like history), cognitive skills training treats the causes of learning struggles to help children, teens, and adults excel in school, sports, the workplace, and extracurricular activities (like sports, music, art, and dance).
IQRx Cognitive Training Programs Include:
BrainRx
ReadRx
Accelerate
Combo Programs
Targeted Tutoring after training: Once the student has improved and efficient cognitive skills, IQRx can close the gap of knowledge content through targeted tutoring. These sessions will only be temporary until the student reaches the appropriate level of content.
Studying Techniques: IQRx can also provide studying skills necessary for success through individual sessions or group workshop of our Studying Habits and Memorization Techniques (TEM: Técnicas de Estudio y Memoria). This program should be completed once the student has improved learning skills through brain training in order to obtain the greatest benefit and ensure that the student can in fact apply everything learned. Once learning is maximized, IQRx can teach the student how to organize, plan, manage time, prepare for tests, take notes, prepare reviews, and different memorization techniques to support their studying process. TEM can be acquired through individualized one on one sessions, a group workshop, or a group workshop paired with individualized coaching.
Helpful Resources
Epilepsy Infographic
About Epilepsy – Epilepsy Ontario
Epilepsy: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment
SIMEDHealth
What is Epilepsy?