National Epilepsy Week 2008

Around 1-2% of the general population has epilepsy. However this figure jumps to 30% among those with an intellectual disability, the Irish Epilepsy Association (Brainwave) has said.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition which is diagnosed when someone has recurrent seizures caused by excess electrical activity in the brain. An estimated 35,000 people in Ireland are affected.

This week is National Epilepsy Week and this year’s event is focusing on epilepsy care for people with intellectual disabilities. According to Brainwave, the rate of epilepsy increases with the severity of a disability. Furthermore the condition is more common among people with cerebral palsy and autism.

“It should be remembered that an intellectual disability does not cause epilepsy and having epilepsy does not cause intellectual disabilities. However, some people may have both epilepsy and an intellectual disability if both are cause by the same underlying problem in the way their brain works”, explained Aisling Farrell of Brainwave.

During National Epilepsy Week, Brainwave will be working to bring this message to the providers of services for people with intellectual disabilities. It will also be raising awareness of specific issues in this population group relating to diagnosis, treatment, drug interactions and compliance with medication.

“Seizures may be more frequent or prolonged in people with intellectual disabilities and can be harder to diagnose and control. EEG brain readings, which are used in diagnosing epilepsy, can be harder to interpret for people who already have abnormal brain functioning”, Ms Farrell said.

She emphasised the importance of people with intellectual disabilities receiving ‘individualised epilepsy care and treatment’.

Meanwhile Brainwave pointed out that while medical advances have made it possible for most people with epilepsy to live seizure-free, medication does not work for everyone and a ‘significant minority’ still have uncontrolled seizures.

“However while there is no cure for the condition, people with epilepsy can live normal, fulfilling lives”, the association said.

National Epilepsy Week runs until May 25.

For more information on the condition, see our Epilepsy Clinic, which was developed in association with Brainwave, at…http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/epilepsy/index.html

[Posted: Mon 19/05/2008]