Epilepsy more common in U.S. than expected
In a new study, it has been found out that one in every 26 people in the United States is likely to develop epilepsy. The figure is higher than what was expected. Because of this, experts urge the development of new and more advanced methods to meet the growing needs of people who suffer from epilepsy.
Dr. Joseph I. Sirven, the chairman-elect of the Epilepsy Foundation’s professional advisory board and a professor and chairman of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz, said that the analysis of potential numbers of epilepsy patients in the U.S. is very important.
Sirven added that older people are more at risk for developing epilepsy and that a huge number of people are more likely to develop epilepsy than thought.Based on the study results, more than 12 million Americans will be seen suffering from epilepsy. However, this number is just considered as a conservative estimate. Dale C. Hesdorffer, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology at Sergievsky Center at Columbia University Medical Center in York City, together with her research team, were able to look for the possibility of developing epilepsy particularly those living in Rochester, Minnesota.
They were able to find out in a past study that 412 people aged 50 to 80 who had the disease during the period of study were said to have a lifetime risk of developing epilepsy at 1.6 percent.
On the other hand, Dr. Edwin Trevathan, the dean of the St. Louis University School of Public Health and also the author of an accompanying editorial in the journal, said that epilepsy has gone unnoticed and there has been limited data regarding new case. Because of this, there are insufficient and good data that would help inform people and health leaders. Trevathan said that most of the data that the best researchers are relying to are 30 to 50 years old. This leads to his request to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to have additional funding for this test to ensue.