Epilepsy as a disability problem
Keywords:
Epilepsy, disability, cognitionAbstract
Epilepsy is one of the most frequent neurological disorders, affecting some 50 million people
worldwide, of which 60% are undiagnosed or untreated despite the high effectiveness of the
pharmacological regimen. The disease is characterized by an abnormal synchronizati on and
increased neuronal electrical activity, and its etiology is variable. It presents with some level of
impairment in cerebral higher functions such as memory, attention, learning, behavior, etcetera,
resulting in a major cause of disability. Although there is progress in its study from the point
of view of molecular genetics, neurophysiology, imaging and psychopharmacology, epilepsy
continues to rank as a serious public health problem. A factor associated with the prevalence
of the disease that influences its progression is the disabling of patients, that is often an obstacle
to their social integration. This paper addresses general aspects of epilepsy as a public health
and disability problem, to promote a better understanding of the disease both among health
professionals and patients themselves.
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