Quick Facts

Epilepsy affects approximately 1 in 100 people.

At least 1 in every 10 people will have one seizure in their lifetime.

There are approximately 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy.

There are approximately 3 million Americans living with epilepsy.

There are approximately 50 million people around the world living with epilepsy.

Epilepsy is NOT contagious. Epilepsy is NOT a disease.  Epilepsy is NOT a psychological disorder.

There is currently no “cure” for epilepsy. However, for 10-15% of people with epilepsy, the surgical removal of the seizure focus – the part of brain where the person’s seizures start – can eliminate all seizure activity. For more than half of people with epilepsy, medication will control their seizures. Additionally, some children will outgrow their epilepsy and some adults may have a spontaneous remission.

Not everyone can identify specific events or circumstances that affect seizures, but some are able to recognize definite seizure triggers.  Some common triggers include:

Forgetting to take prescribed seizure medication
Lack of sleep
Missing meals
Stress, excitement, emotional upset
Menstrual cycle / hormonal changes
Illness or fever
Low seizure medication levels
Medications other than prescribed seizure medication
Flickering lights of computers, television, videos, etc., and sometimes even bright sunlight
Excessive alcohol consumption and subsequent withdrawal
Street drugs

First-Aid for Seizures is Simple

Famous People with Epilepsy

Throughout history, many famous people are known or are suspected of having had epilepsy. These include:

Julius Caesar
Alexander the Great
Agatha Christie
Socrates
Joan of Arc
Harriet Tubman 
Napoleon Bonaparte
Vincent Van Gogh
Charles Dickens
Richard Burton
Alfred Nobel
Mohammed
Thomas Edison

And more recently:

Actor Margaux Hemingway (1955-1996)
Actor Danny Glover
Singer-songwriter Neil Young
Adam Horovitz of the music group Beastie Boys
Mike Skinner from band The Streets
American Olympian Florence Griffith-Joyner, aka Flo Jo (1959-1998)
American Football guard Alan Faneca (New York Jets)
American Football cornerback Samari Rolle (Baltimore Ravens)
2006 U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team goalie Chanda Gunn

For a longer list of famous people affected by epilepsy, visit Wikipedia.