70%
Epilepsy: Causes Often Unknown
• Severe head injury –
common in young adults
• Brain tumors, strokes or
degenerative conditions –
frequent in older adults
• Birth defects – natural
disorders can affect the
electrical system of the brain
• Infection – meningitis,
viral encephalitis, mumps, measles,
and diphtheria can trigger seizures
of newly
diagnosed cases
of epilepsy are of
an unknown cause
COMMON CAUSES
1 – Epilepsy Foundation Web site, https://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/causes/index.cfm
2 – Illustrations developed by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.