Epilepsy

Question 1

What is epilepsy?

Answer 1

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures.

Question 2

What is the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy?

Answer 2

Epilepsy affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide.

The incidence rate ranges from 20 to 70 per 100,000 people per year.

Question 3

What are some common types of epilepsy?

Answer 3

Temporal lobe epilepsy

Absence epilepsy

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Focal seizures

Question 4

What are some current ideas concerning the cellular basis for epilepsy?

Answer 4

Imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission

Abnormal ion channel function

Abnormal synaptic plasticity

Genetic mutations

Question 5

What is the mechanism of action of anticonvulsant drugs?

Answer 5

Enhancing inhibitory neurotransmission (e.g., benzodiazepines, barbiturates)

Reducing excitatory neurotransmission (e.g., glutamate receptor antagonists)

Modulating ion channel function (e.g., voltage-gated sodium channel blockers, calcium channel blockers)

Potentiating GABA receptor activity (e.g., valproic acid)