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Over 40 syndromes exist that affect 2,700,000 Americans |
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10% of Americans will have a seizure in their lifetime |
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3% of Americans will develop epilepsy by age 75 |
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Incidence is highest under the age of 2 and over the age of 65 |
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Males are slightly more likely than females to develop epilepsy |
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In 70% of new cases, no cause is apparent |
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Of new cases of epilepsy, 50% will have generalized onset seizures with others having partial seizures |
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70% of those with epilepsy on medications are seizure-free for 5 or more years. |
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Epilepsy affects more than 570,000 Americans, aged 65 and above |
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Epilepsy carries an estimated annual cost of $15.5 billion in associated health care costs and losses in employment, wages and productivity |
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Approximately 300,000 people have their first event each year |
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Approximately 45,000 children under the age of 15 develop epilepsy each year |
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Epilepsy can exist with other disability groups, such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and mental retardation |
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Researchers are working to identify genes that influence epilepsy that will lead to improved drug and surgical therapies |
