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Published:
October 27, 2025

Epilepsy For Dummies

Overview

A conversational guide to understanding and living with epilepsy

Millions of people around the world have epilepsy, but the condition is widely misunderstood. Epilepsy For Dummies breaks through outdated stigmas surrounding this complex neurological disease. The book offers a 360-degree view by incorporating medical, social, and other perspectives to help you cope with epilepsy or support someone who has been diagnosed. You'll learn about triggers and risk factors, different types of seizures, and getting a diagnosis. You'll also explore various treatment options, including medications, surgery, therapy, and neuromodulation. Beyond the basics, this guide addresses staying safe and managing associated conditions, empowering you to live well.

  • Get up-to-date facts about epilepsy, written in terms anyone can understand
  • Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for different seizure types
  • Discover how family and friends can support their loved ones with epilepsy
  • Find advice for feeling in control and living a fulfilling life

Epilepsy For Dummies is invaluable for anyone with epilepsy, as well as their caretakers, family, and friends. It's also a great resource for educators and medical professionals.

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About The Author

Elizabeth A. Thiele, MD, PhD, is an epileptologist who treats children and young adults who have complex cases of epilepsy. She’s the Director of Pediatric Epilepsy at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.

Lauren Seeley Aguirre is an award-winning science journalist and former producer for the PBS series NOVA. She is the author of The Memory Thief and the Secrets Behind How We Remember: A Medical Mystery.

Sample Chapters

epilepsy for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

Epilepsy is characterized by seizures in the brain. Seizures are incidents of hyper-synchronous neural activity during which normal, controlled brain function is severely compromised. Epilepsy has multiple causes, ranging from genetic to developmental abnormalities that may have environmental contributions. Treatments for epilepsy include Pharmaceuticals: Drugs used to treat epilepsy are called anticonvulsants; currently, 20 are approved by the FDA.

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