If you or a loved one has been newly diagnosed with epilepsy. You are not alone. The Epilepsy Foundation is your ally along all the steps of this journey. We are a community-driven family-led organization. Here on our website, epilepsy.com, you will find professionally approved information on all aspects of epilepsy and seizures. Just as important, you will find our online community -- individuals, caregivers and experts here to provide help, hope and support. We also encourage you to find your local Epilepsy Foundation.

You may have a lot of questions about epilepsy. We will help you understand the basics, answer the most common questions, and help you find resources and other information. However, information alone won’t help you manage your epilepsy or find a way to cope with the effects on your daily life. You’ll need to learn how to use the information and make it work for you. That's where joining our community can help.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting the nervous system. Epilepsy is also known as a seizure disorder. It is usually diagnosed after a person has had at two seizures, or one seizure with the likelihood or more, that were not caused by some known medical condition.

What are Seizures?

Seizures seen in epilepsy are caused by disturbances in the electrical activity of the brain. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but most of the time the cause is unknown.