Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesGeneticsRisk FactorsSeizure TriggersFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Epilepsy GuideHow Epilepsy Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Genetics
Risk Factors
Seizure Triggers
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Epilepsy Guide
For the other half, the cause may be attributed to one or more specific factors such as genetics,brain injuryor damage, structural changes in the brain, certain conditions and illnesses, and developmental disorders.
Epilepsy is a complex disorder with a variety of causes. Anything that disrupts the brain’s normal electrical pattern can lead to seizures. Around half of epilepsy cases can be linked to specific factors, including:
GeneticsBrain damageBrain infectionsDevelopmental disordersStructural changes in the brainAlcohol
It’s important to note that for most people with a genetic form of epilepsy, genes are not the only cause. (Genetics is covered in more detail below.)
Brain Damage
Conditions that cause damage to your brain can cause epilepsy. These include:
Stroke is the leading cause of epilepsy in adults who are diagnosed after age 65.
Stroke
Brain Infections
Developmental Disorders
Epilepsy appears to be more common in people with certain developmental disorders, including:
Structural Changes in the Brain
Certain differences in the structure of your brain can cause seizures, including:
Alcohol
Some studies have shown that chronic abuse of alcohol may be associated with the development of epilepsy in some people.This research suggests that repeated alcohol withdrawal seizures may make the brain more excitable overtime. In addition, this population also has a higher incidence of traumatic brain injury that can also cause epilepsy.
If epilepsy runs in your family, it’s most likelydue to a genetic component. Some epilepsies with unknown causes may also have a genetic component that’s not yet understood.
While some specific genes are linked to certain types of epilepsy, in most cases, genes don’t necessarilycauseepilepsy—they may just make it more likely to occur under the right circumstances.
If you get a traumatic head injury and you have a family history of epilepsy, for example, you may be more likely to develop it. Genes are only a piece of the complex puzzle for most people.
Several of the specific epilepsy syndromes and types are known to have a genetic component.
Familial Neonatal Epilepsy
Mutations in the KCNQ2 gene are most often the cause, though mutations in the KCNQ3 gene can also be a factor.
Genetic Epilepsy With Febrile Seizures Plus (GEFS+)
GEFS+ is a spectrum of seizure disorders.Seizuresusually start between the ages of 6 months and 6 years when the child has a fever, called afebrile seizure.
Some kids also develop seizures without fever, usually generalized seizures such as absence, tonic-clonic, myoclonic, or atonic. The seizures typically stop during early adolescence.
SCN1A, SCN1B, GABRG2, and PCDH19 are some of the genes that have been linked to GEFS+.
Dravet Syndrome
This syndrome is considered to be on the severe side of the GEFS+ spectrum. Seizures usually begin around the age of 6 months. Many kids with this syndrome have their first seizure when they have a fever.
Myoclonic, tonic-clonic, and atypical absence seizures also develop, which are difficult to control and may get worse as the child gets older. Intellectual disability is common.
More than 80 percent of people with Dravet syndrome have mutations in the sodium channel gene SCN1A.
Ohtahara Syndrome
In this rare syndrome, tonic seizures usually start within the first month after birth, though this may happen up to three months later.
One out of three babies may also develop focal, atonic, myoclonic, or tonic-clonic seizures. While rare, this type of epilepsy can be fatal before the age of 2. Some children may later develop West syndrome orLennox-Gastaut syndrome.
A number of genes have been associated with Ohtahara syndrome, including STXBP1, SLC25A22, CDKL5, ARX, SPTAN1, PCDH19, KCNQ2, and SCN2A.
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
One of the most common generalized epilepsies with a genetic component,juvenile myoclonic epilepsyconsists of tonic-clonic, absence, and myoclonic seizures that begin in childhood or adolescence, usually between the ages of 12 to 18 years.Seizures tend to be well-controlled with medication and seem to improve when you reach your 40s.
The genes associated with this syndrome are CACNB4, GABRA1, GABRD, and EFHC1, though the patterns tend to be complex.
Autosomal Dominant Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Though this syndrome is lifelong, seizures won’t get any worse and may actually become less frequent and milder with age. They’re also usually well-controlled with medication. This epilepsy isn’t very common and it’s almost always inherited.
Mutations in the nicotinic receptor subunit genes CHRNA4, CHRNB2, CHRNA2, and DEPDC5 have been linked to this syndrome.
Childhood Absence Epilepsy
Absence seizures usually begin between the ages of 2 and 12 years and are often genetic. In around 2 out of 3 children, the seizures stop in adolescence. Some go on to develop other types of seizures.
Genes that are associated with childhood absence epilepsy include GABRG2 and CACNA1A.
Juvenile Absence Epilepsy
This syndrome begins later in life and the seizures tend to last longer than in childhood absence epilepsy. It’s also usually a lifelong condition, whereas kids with childhood absence epilepsy tend to outgrow their seizures.
Absence seizures usually start between the ages of 9 and 13 years, though they can begin anywhere from age 8 to 20. Tonic-clonic seizures, typically when waking up, are also seen in around 80 percent of people with this syndrome.
The cause is often genetic, and the genes linked to juvenile absence epilepsy are GABRG2 and CACNA1A, as well as others.
Epilepsy With Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Alone
Tonic-clonic seizures can start anywhere from the age of 5 to 40 years, though most start between 11 and 23. Seizures usually happen within two hours of waking up.
Sleep deprivation, fatigue, alcohol, menstruation, flashing lights, and fever are often triggers, and most people will need medication for their whole lives.
The main gene associated with this syndrome is CLCN2.
Familial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
If you have focal seizures that begin in the temporal lobe and a family history of similar seizures, you’re considered to have this syndrome. The seizures tend to be fairly rare and mild; so mild, in fact, that they may not be recognized.
Seizures usually start after age 10 and are easily controlled with medication.
The associated gene in this hereditary epilepsy is DEPDC5.
Familial Focal Epilepsy With Variable Foci
This inherited epilepsy typically consists of one specific type of focal seizure. Those in a family who have epilepsy all have one single type of focal seizure, but the seizures may start in different parts of their brains.
The seizures are typically easy to control with medication and are usually infrequent.
The DEPDC5 gene is also linked to this syndrome.
West Syndrome
Infantile spasms begin in the first year of life and usually stop between the ages of 2 and 4 years.
Abnormalities in the genes ARX, CDKL5, SPTAN1, and STXBP1 have been found in this syndrome, though other causes include brain structural abnormalities, sometimes genetic in nature, and chromosomal abnormalities.
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
The gene associated with this syndrome is GRIN2A, though this is another case where the genetic pattern is extremely complex.
The most common risk factors for epilepsy include:
Causes and Risk Factors of Epilepsy
Certain circumstances or situations may increase the likelihood that you’ll have a seizure. These are known as triggers and if you’re able to figure out what yours are, that information can help you manage and potentially prevent more seizures.
Factors that may contribute to seizures include:
Epilepsy can begin on one side of the brain or both sides at once. Any of the lobes (sections) of the brain may be affected, but the temporal lobe is most often involved. The symptoms usually reflect which area of the brain is affected.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epilepsy Foundation.What are the causes of epilepsy?Liu S, Yu W, Lü Y.The causes of new-onset epilepsy and seizures in the elderly.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:1425-34. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107905International League Against Epilepsy.Infectious etiology.Epilepsy Foundation.What are the risk factors of seizures?Samokhvalov AV, Irving H, Mohapatra S, Rehm J.Alcohol consumption, unprovoked seizures, and epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Epilepsia. 2010;51(7):1177-84. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02426.xMedlinePlus.Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus.MedlinePlus.Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.MedlinePlus.Familial focal epilepsy with variable foci.Epilepsy Foundation.Childhood epilepsy centrotemporal spikes (benign rolandic epilepsy).Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.Cedars-Sinai.Non-epileptic seizures.Additional ReadingEpilepsy Foundation.What is epilepsy?International League Against Epilepsy.Gene abnormalities.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Epilepsy and seizures.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epilepsy Foundation.What are the causes of epilepsy?Liu S, Yu W, Lü Y.The causes of new-onset epilepsy and seizures in the elderly.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:1425-34. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107905International League Against Epilepsy.Infectious etiology.Epilepsy Foundation.What are the risk factors of seizures?Samokhvalov AV, Irving H, Mohapatra S, Rehm J.Alcohol consumption, unprovoked seizures, and epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Epilepsia. 2010;51(7):1177-84. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02426.xMedlinePlus.Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus.MedlinePlus.Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.MedlinePlus.Familial focal epilepsy with variable foci.Epilepsy Foundation.Childhood epilepsy centrotemporal spikes (benign rolandic epilepsy).Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.Cedars-Sinai.Non-epileptic seizures.Additional ReadingEpilepsy Foundation.What is epilepsy?International League Against Epilepsy.Gene abnormalities.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Epilepsy and seizures.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Epilepsy Foundation.What are the causes of epilepsy?Liu S, Yu W, Lü Y.The causes of new-onset epilepsy and seizures in the elderly.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:1425-34. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107905International League Against Epilepsy.Infectious etiology.Epilepsy Foundation.What are the risk factors of seizures?Samokhvalov AV, Irving H, Mohapatra S, Rehm J.Alcohol consumption, unprovoked seizures, and epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Epilepsia. 2010;51(7):1177-84. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02426.xMedlinePlus.Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus.MedlinePlus.Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.MedlinePlus.Familial focal epilepsy with variable foci.Epilepsy Foundation.Childhood epilepsy centrotemporal spikes (benign rolandic epilepsy).Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.Cedars-Sinai.Non-epileptic seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.What are the causes of epilepsy?
Liu S, Yu W, Lü Y.The causes of new-onset epilepsy and seizures in the elderly.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:1425-34. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107905
International League Against Epilepsy.Infectious etiology.
Epilepsy Foundation.What are the risk factors of seizures?
Samokhvalov AV, Irving H, Mohapatra S, Rehm J.Alcohol consumption, unprovoked seizures, and epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Epilepsia. 2010;51(7):1177-84. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02426.x
MedlinePlus.Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus.
MedlinePlus.Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
MedlinePlus.Familial focal epilepsy with variable foci.
Epilepsy Foundation.Childhood epilepsy centrotemporal spikes (benign rolandic epilepsy).
Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.
Cedars-Sinai.Non-epileptic seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.What is epilepsy?International League Against Epilepsy.Gene abnormalities.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Epilepsy and seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.What is epilepsy?
International League Against Epilepsy.Gene abnormalities.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Epilepsy and seizures.
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