text: about epilepsy??   >epilepsy (seizure disorder)  what is epilepsy? epilepsy, a physical condition caused by sudden, brief changes in how the brain works, is estimated to affect one percent of the u.s. population, about 2.5 million people. in about half of all cases no cause can be found, but head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, problems in brain development before birth, and certain genetic and infectious illnesses can all cause epilepsy.  epilepsy occurs when nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses at a rate of up to four times higher than normal. this causes a sort of electrical storm in the brain, known as a seizure. a pattern of repeated seizure is referred to as epilepsy. medication controls seizure for the majority of patients, who are otherwise healthy and able to live full and productive lives. on the other hand, at least 200,000 americans have seizure more than once a month. their lives are devastated by frequent, uncontrollable seizure or associated disabilities.  this past decade has seen a dramatic increase in our knowledge about epilepsy, but there remains much tragedy in the lives of many people with the disorder. to brighten tomorrow's outlook for those who must live with seizure, the epilepsy research community continues to concentrate its efforts on:  what are the causes of epilepsy? basic research aims to identify viral, genetic, or other factors that cause epilepsy. these findings provide the basis for developing new and improved methods of prevention and therapy.  what are the newest means of diagnosis? scientists are using promising new technologies such as positron emission tomography (pet) and magnetoencephalography to diagnose epilepsy and pinpoint seizure location.  is there any treatment? the goal of modern neurological research is to develop safe, well-tolerated drugs that control seizure. basic research has brought some of the now more commonly prescribed anticonvulsant drugs to the market. scientists are also developing ways to test new and better drugs in patients.  improving and developing new surgical techniques this form of treatment, performed at epilepsy clinical research centers, is now an option for more people with epilepsy, including children. for patients whose seizure cannot be controlled with drugs, surgery can turn the dream of a seizure-free life into a reality. improved technology has made it possible to identify more accurately where seizure originate in the brain and to what extent surgery may affect vital functions, such as smell and speech. as a result, investigators estimate that 2,000 to 5,000 new patients in the united states might be suitable for surgery each year.