Epilepsy refers to a recurrent pattern of seizures brought on by electrical misfirings in one or several parts of the brain. The causes are varied. Only about 20 percent is thought to be genetic, with the age of onset generally between 5 and 15. Other major causes include damage to the brain in the prenatal period or during birth, brain tumors, head trauma resulting from accidents, infections such as meningitis, as well as strokes, especially in older patients. Treiman says the goal of treatment is to make patients seizure-free without side effects, so they can live normal lives.
Genetic engineering is another.
He says that at least two different genes implicated in heritable forms of the disease have been identified, but this has not yet led to a better understanding of the disease process. This, in effect, would shut down a seizure before it really got going. Although there were no new drugs developed for this disease for 15 years, several new medications have been released within the last four years.