Which of these is the cause of your epilepsy?

Which of these is the cause of your epilepsy? | March 30, 2026

In 6 out of 10 cases, epilepsy is idiopathic — meaning the cause is unknown. In other cases, epilepsy can be traced to an abnormality of the structure or function of the brain.

These abnormalities can arise from traumatic brain injuries, strokes and other vascular problems, infections of the nervous system (meningitis or encephalitis), congenital malformations, brain tumors or metabolic abnormalities.

Seizures can literally begin at any time for any number of reasons.

Here are just a few of them.

Which pertain to you?

Age. The onset of epilepsy is most common in children and older adults, but the condition can occur at any age.

Prenatal injury. Before birth, babies are sensitive to brain damage that could be caused by several factors, such as an infection in the mother, poor nutrition or oxygen deficiencies. This brain damage can result in epilepsy or cerebral palsy.

Genetic influence. Some types of epilepsy, which are categorized by the type of seizure you experience or the part of the brain that is affected, run in families. In these cases, it’s likely that there’s a genetic influence. Researchers have linked some types of epilepsy to specific genes, but for most people, genes are only part of the cause of epilepsy. Certain genes may make a person more sensitive to environmental conditions that trigger seizures.

Seizures in childhood. High fevers in childhood can sometimes be associated with seizures. Children who have seizures due to high fevers generally won’t develop epilepsy. The risk of epilepsy increases if a child has a long fever-associated seizure, another nervous system condition or a family history of epilepsy.

Developmental disorders. Birth abnormalities affecting the brain are a frequent cause of epilepsy, particularly in people whose seizures aren’t controlled with anti-seizure medications. Some birth abnormalities known to cause epilepsy include focal cortical dysplasia, polymicrogyria and tuberous sclerosis. Epilepsy can also be associated with developmental disorders such as autism.

Brain conditions. Most cases of epilepsy in people older than 35 happen because of brain damage from a stroke or even after brain surgery. Other brain problems that can trigger epilepsy include: Tumor, blood vessel problems, like the hardening of your brain’s arteries, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Brain infections. Infections such as meningitis, which causes inflammation in your brain or spinal cord, can increase your risk, along with HIV, viral encephalitis and some parasitic infections.

Immune disorders. Conditions that cause your immune system to attack brain cells (also called autoimmune diseases) can lead to epilepsy.

Head or brain trauma. Either can trigger seizures. Sometimes they go away. If they do, you don’t have epilepsy. However, if they continue, that’s a sign that you have post-traumatic epilepsy, or PTE. It can also happen during birth. You may not get epilepsy until long after your brain injury — sometimes years later.

Stroke and other vascular diseases. Stroke and other blood vessel (vascular) diseases can lead to brain damage that may trigger epilepsy. You can take a number of steps to reduce your risk of these diseases, including limiting your intake of alcohol and avoiding cigarettes, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.

Metabolic causes. Your body contains enzymes that are responsible for processing the food you eat. If there is a problem in one of these enzymes, this can lead to issues breaking down food or making the energy your body needs to function.

Dementia. Dementia can increase the risk of epilepsy in older adults.

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Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093

https://www.epilepsy.com/causes

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17636-epilepsy#symptoms-and-causes

https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/epilepsy-causes#091e9c5e8000613f-1-3

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epilepsy/epilepsy-causes