Epilepsy: Who Is Most at Risk?

Posted: Oct. 1, 2005

The basic, underlying risk of developing epilepsy is about one percent. Individuals in certain populations are at higher risk.

For example, it is estimated that epilepsy can be expected to develop in:

• 10 percent of children with mental retardation
• 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy
• 50 percent of children with both disabilities
• 10 percent of Alzheimer patients
• 22 percent of stroke patients
• 8.7 percent of children of mothers with epilepsy
• 2.4 percent of children of fathers with epilepsy
• 33 percent of people who have had a single, unprovoked seizure

Remission

• 70 percent of people with epilepsy can be expected to enter remission, defined as 5 or more years seizure-free on medication.
• 35 percent of people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or other neurological condition will enter remission.
• 75 percent of people who are seizure-free on medication for 2 to 5 years can be successfully withdrawn from medication.
• 0 percent of new patients fail to gain control of seizures despite optimal medical management.

Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

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