Seizure

Epilepsy is defined as a brain disorder characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition [1]. Approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally [2]. One of the most useful methods to measure overall burden of a disease is the Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); these are higher for epilepsy than for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis ...

It was with sorrow that Epilepsy Action learned of the recent death of Dr Tim Betts. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this sad time.

Infantile spasm, a childhood epilepsy with rather poor prognosis, is characterized by myoclonic seizures, a hypsarrythmic EEG pattern and developmental retardation. It was first described by William West in his own son in 1841. Various hypotheses have been proposed concerning the pathophysiology of infantile spasm. These include brain stem dysfunction due to pathology in serotonergic neurons, interaction between the brain stem and a focal or diffuse cortical abnormality, interaction between cortical-subcortical abnormalities and immunological dysfunction [1–4].

Infantile spasm, a childhood epilepsy with rather poor prognosis, is characterized by myoclonic seizures, a hypsarrythmic EEG pattern and developmental retardation. It was first described by William West in his own son in 1841. Various hypotheses have been proposed concerning the pathophysiology of infantile spasm. These include brain stem dysfunction due to pathology in serotonergic neurons, interaction between the brain stem and a focal or diffuse cortical abnormality, interaction between cortical-subcortical abnormalities and immunological dysfunction [1–4].