Does my brain get permanently damaged after a seizure?

Although scientists and clinicians have long known that prolonged seizures, a condition referred to as "status epilepticus," kill brain cells, surprisingly little scientific evidence exists to support the notion that individual seizures do damage.


Do seizures give you permanent brain damage?

A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death.

Can seizures cause irreversible brain damage?

Abstract. Data from experimental models provide evidence that both prolonged and brief seizures can cause irreversible impairment in spatial and emotional learning and memory.


Can the brain recover after a seizure?

Some people recover immediately while others may take minutes to hours to feel like their usual self. The type of seizure, as well as what part of the brain the seizure impacts, affects the recovery period – how long it may last and what may occur during it.

How long does it take for a seizure to cause brain damage?

A seizure that lasts more than five minutes, or at least two seizures without full recovery in between, can cause brain damage or worse in children and newborns.


Causes of Seizures Following Brain Injury



What type of seizures cause brain damage?

Status epilepticus happens when a seizure lasts for more than five minutes, or you have more than one seizure without enough time between to recover. Status epilepticus is a life-threatening medical emergency because it can cause brain damage or even death.

What are signs of brain damage?

Danger signs in adults
  • Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away.
  • Experience weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, convulsions, or seizures.
  • Vomit repeatedly.
  • Have slurred speech or unusual behavior.
  • Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other.


Can you live a normal life after a seizure?

With the right diagnosis and treatment, most patients can live a normal life. We have made great advancements in epilepsy treatment over the last 20 years with more medications, advanced diagnostic tests and more precise surgical techniques.


Can seizures rewire the brain?

While results vary across studies, there is evidence that prolonged seizures (also called status epilepticus) may result in long-term cognitive deficits and learning disability in at least some patients. These seizures have also been associated with the development of chronic depression.

What are the long term effects of seizures?

People with seizures are more likely to have psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety. Problems may be a result of difficulties dealing with the condition itself as well as medication side effects.

Do seizures shorten your life span?

Reduction in life expectancy can be up to 2 years for people with a diagnosis of idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy, and the reduction can be up to 10 years in people with symptomatic epilepsy.


Is memory loss after a seizure permanent?

You may have difficulty remembering information straight after a seizure. This is sometimes called post-ictal confusion and it usually goes away once you have recovered. The length of time it takes for memory to return to normal can vary from person to person.

Can seizures change your personality?

Many people with epilepsy experience disagreeable changes in their emotions, and the link between mood disorders and epilepsy has been observed for more than 2,000 years. While this link has been noticed for many years, the relationship between seizures and mood disorders has not been well understood until recently.

Is seizure a permanent disability?

For some, epilepsy is controlled by medications. For others though, uncontrolled seizures wreak havoc on all aspects of life, including the ability to work and earn a living. If you suffer from uncontrolled seizures, you may be able to qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).


Will I have a seizure in my lifetime?

About 6 out of 10 people diagnosed with epilepsy can become seizure free within a few years with proper treatment. Many of these people will never have any more seizures. For the rest of the people, some will have occasional breakthrough seizures or side effects of medicines and others will have uncontrolled seizures.

Is seizure disorder lifelong?

Epilepsy is usually a lifelong condition, but most people with it are able to have normal lives if their seizures are well controlled. Most children with epilepsy are able to go to a mainstream school, take part in most activities and sports, and get a job when they're older.

Can brain surgery fix seizures?

Epilepsy surgery is most effective when seizures always occur in a single location in the brain. Epilepsy surgery is not the first line of treatment. But it might be an option when at least two anti-seizure medicines have failed to control seizures.


What famous person has epilepsy?

Musician Neil Young was diagnosed with epilepsy in his childhood. 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt struggled with epilepsy. Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham has mild epilepsy. Many books suggest Napoleon Bonaparte suffered from epilepsy throughout his life.

Can seizures cause brain stem damage?

Impaired Serotonergic Brainstem Function During and After Seizures. Impaired breathing, cardiac function, and arousal during and after seizures are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Previous work suggests that these changes are associated with depressed brainstem function in the ictal and post-ictal periods.

How long does it take to mentally recover from a seizure?

While it's true that many people come round from a seizure fairly quickly and become aware of their surroundings, full recovery can take some time. Even if the person has not sustained an injury, it can take several hours, sometimes several days, before a person feels back to normal again.


What triggers seizures?

Missed medication, lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and menstruation are some of the most common triggers, but there are many more. Flashing lights can cause seizures in some people, but it's much less frequent than you might imagine.

What is the last stage of epilepsy?

Ending (post-ictal) phase

This is the recovery stage and during this phase any physical after effects of the seizure are felt. The type of seizure and the part of the brain involved will determine how long it takes for a person to return to their usual self. Some common signs of this phase include: Confusion.

What brain damage is permanent?

While damage to the brain following a traumatic brain injury is permanent because damaged brain cells cannot regenerate or repair themselves, there is hope for functional recovery. This is because functions affected by TBI may be rewired and improved by healthy brain cells.


How do you test for permanent brain damage?

Diagnosis of TBI

Assessment usually includes a neurological exam. This exam evaluates thinking, motor function (movement), sensory function, coordination, eye movement, and reflexes. Imaging tests, including CT scans and MRI scans, cannot detect all TBIs.

How do you test brain damage?

A CT scan can quickly visualize fractures and uncover evidence of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage), blood clots (hematomas), bruised brain tissue (contusions), and brain tissue swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses powerful radio waves and magnets to create a detailed view of the brain.