Epilepsy is one of the most common serious brain conditions: nearly 52 million people were living with epilepsy in 2021, the Medical Xpress portal reported citing a new study from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021 (GBD 2021) published in The Lancet Public Health.

The study found that from 1990 to 2021 there was a 10.8% increase in the number of people living with epilepsy globally, likely due to improved identification of epilepsy cases. The study also found the number of individuals dying from epilepsy decreased by 14.5% during this time period, and while the causes are not clear, it is thought to be due to improved treatment and identification of less severe epileptic seizures.

Epilepsy affects people of all ages across the globe and increases the risk of premature death by up to three times compared to the general population. The current study aimed to provide the most up-to-date estimate of the global prevalence of active idiopathic (epilepsy of genetic or unknown origin) and secondary epilepsy (epilepsy due to an underlying abnormality of the brain structure or chemistry).

The study also identified significant geographical differences in the burden of idiopathic epilepsy in 2021, with a three-to-four-fold increase in incidence (82.1%) and deaths (84.7%) in low-income to middle-income countries compared to high-income countries.

By identifying the regions with the highest burden of epilepsy, this study provides crucial data for targeted interventions and highlights the need for better treatment and prevention of epilepsy, along with further research on the characteristics that increase the likelihood of developing idiopathic epilepsy, to reduce the global burden of the disease.