{"id":47735,"date":"2021-12-16T18:23:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T23:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=47735"},"modified":"2026-03-27T15:58:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T19:58:00","slug":"epilepsy-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/epilepsy-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Epilepsy statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide. Almost 3 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy (<\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>, 2024), and the condition affects about 50 million people around the world (<\/span>World Health Organization<\/span><\/a>, 2024). This is more than the number of people with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy combined.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The WHO also reports that in high-income countries, about 49 out of 100,000 people are diagnosed annually with epilepsy versus 139 people in low- and middle-income countries,” says <\/span>Rebecca Spiegel<\/span><\/a>, MD, an epileptologist and chief of Stony Brook Comprehensive Level 4 Epilepsy Center. “The reasons for this major disparity include a higher prevalence of endemic conditions such as neurocysticercosis, more traffic injuries, and birth-related injuries. The WHO estimates that close to 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries.”<\/span><\/p>\n

What is epilepsy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures. A seizure is excess electrical activity in the brain that causes different symptoms depending on the part of the brain that is affected. For example, some people experience a loss of consciousness and dramatic shaking movements (called “tonic-clonic” or grand mal seizures). Others may stare blankly into space with absence seizures. For some people, only one part of the brain and the body is affected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Epilepsy affects people of all ages. Some people with epilepsy also have memory problems, learning disabilities, or mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It’s important to note that some seizures are not due to abnormalities in the brain itself but rather due to abnormal whole-body conditions,” explains Spiegel. “Such abnormalities include low oxygen, low sugar, or a significant electrolyte imbalance in the body. Seizures that are caused by whole-body abnormalities rather than a specific brain problem are not counted in the diagnosis of epilepsy, and thus having seizures does not necessarily mean that one has epilepsy.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Epilepsy diagnosis typically involves a neurological exam, blood work, and a variety of tests that look for abnormalities in brain function. These may include electroencephalogram (EEG), CT, MRI, and PET scans.<\/span><\/p>\n

How common is epilepsy?<\/span><\/h2>\n