What’s New in Epilepsy

The latest Epilepsy resources, programs, campaigns, and website updates.

About one-half of adults with active epilepsy and seizures have annual family incomes under $25,000: The 2010 and 2013 US National Health Interview Surveys
A CDC study found that one-half of adults with active epilepsy and seizures have annual family incomes under $25,000. Promoting self-management supports and improved access to specialty care may reduce the burden of uncontrolled seizures in adults with epilepsy.

Recent changes in attitudes of US adults toward people with epilepsy — Results from the 2005 SummerStyles and 2013 FallStyles surveys
A CDC study found that adults’ level of personal fear and intention for social avoidance worsened from 2005 to 2013.

New MMWR:National and State Estimates of the Numbers of Adults and Children with Active Epilepsy — United States, 2015
A new CDC study found that in 2015, 3.4 million people – about 3 million adults and 470,000 children – had active epilepsy (either under treatment or with recent seizures). For the first time, state prevalence estimates are available for all states and the District of Columbia.

New Epilepsy Podcasts: A Cup of Health (6:06) and A Minute of Health (:59)
Approximately 3.4 million people in the US have active epilepsy. These CDC podcasts discusses the signs and treatment for epilepsy.

2017 Revised Classification of Seizures
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) has revised its classification of seizures. The changes will help make diagnosing and classifying seizures more accurate and easier.

New Publication: Epilepsy and Self-Reported Positive Mental and Physical Health
The CDC Epilepsy Program analyzed data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and found that adults with epilepsy history fare significantly worse on mental and physical health compared to adults with other common chronic conditions.

School Health Profiles and Practices Brief: Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder [PDF – 2 MB]
This brief highlights epilepsy-related data from the 2014 School Health Profiles survey and shares resources for schools, parents, and communities.

Outcomes from the SC Epilepsy Surveillance System [PDF-2M]
Risk Factors of Epilepsy Outcomes: Comorbidities in a Population with Epilepsy Final Report describes outcomes from the South Carolina Epilepsy Surveillance System (SCESS). The SCESS is the only statewide epilepsy surveillance system based on administrative data, coordinated by the Medical University of South Carolina and state agencies, with CDC support (FY02-FY14).

Healthy People 2020 Target Met [PDF-423K]
The proportion of people aged 18 years or older with epilepsy and uncontrolled seizures who received appropriate medical care (Healthy People Objective DH-6) increased from 57.7% in 2010 to 65.7% in 2013. This exceeds the 2020 target of 63.5%. For more information, see the full Healthy People 2020 Midcourse Review.

New Program Targets Memory Problems
The Dartmouth College Prevention Research Center used CDC funding to create HOBSCOTCH (HOme Based Self-management and COgnitive Training CHanges lives) – an evidence-based program that improves memory and overall health in adults with epilepsy.

MEW Network FY16 Executive Summary [PDF-33K]
The CDC Prevention Research Centers Managing Epilepsy Well Network has released its FY16 Executive Summary, which highlights network projects and accomplishments.

CDC Epilepsy Alerts and Content Syndication
Stay informed about the CDC Epilepsy Program by signing up for e-mail updates and syndicating available content to your website. Content syndication is an easy and free way to add scientifically sound and credible CDC health content directly to your site.

Epilepsy Features and Spotlights
The CDC Epilepsy Program creates features to bring attention to important epilepsy issues and topics.