Traumatic Brain Injury: Experts Hope to Avoid Epilepsy After Brain Injury

Many of those who have suffered traumatic brain injury likely will develop epilepsy months or years after their initial injury. The risk is especially high for certain types of war injuries; studies of Vietnam veterans have indicated that up to 50% of war vets will suffer epilepsy later in life. Studies currently are underway to determine what causes the increased epilepsy risk and if anything can be done to protect vulnerable brains. Pilot studies currently are investigating if Topamax or Keppra may prevent epilepsy if taken immediately after a serious brain injury.

Experts Hope to Avert Epilepsy After Brain Injury

Dr. Marc Dichter, from the University of Pennsylvania and who currently is leading the Topamax study, says that "it is among the most frustrating things in medicine to know that someone's at risk... and be unable to do anything about it." About three million Americans suffer from epilepsy and about five percent of these cases are believed to be related to traumatic brain injury. About 35 percent of survivors of moderate to severe brain injury will develop epilepsy.