There are many reasons why people have epilepsy. Often it is impossible to define the cause. Some causes include:
- acquired brain injury
- loss of oxygen (hypoxia)
- infections such as encephalitis
- strokes, tumours or cysts
- cerebrovascular degeneration in the elderly
- genetic causes. These may be inherited in the family or they may be caused by a new genetic abnormality that occurs during the earliest stage of foetal development.
For more information on who is more likely to get epilepsy click here.
