Causes of epilepsy

This information is for people who want to know more about what causes epilepsy. On this page we talk about possible causes of epilepsy, including genetic, structural and metabolic causes. We also include information about what causes epilepsy in babies and young children. 

Use this page as a general guide and speak to a health professional for more information and support. 

What are the main causes of epilepsy?

For most people with epilepsy, what causes it usually falls into three groups: 

• genetic causes 
• Changes in brain structure or metabolic disorders  
• unknown – we do not know what causes epilepsy in most people. More research is needed to know for sure. 

In the sections below, we explain more about genetic causes of epilepsy, and epilepsy that is caused by changes in brain structure or metabolic disorders. 

Genetic causes

When talking about causes of epilepsy, ‘genetic’ does not mean the same thing as ‘inherited’ from a parent. Epilepsy that is caused by genetics is usually caused by a gene mutation (a change in the gene) occurring in a person. Epilepsy is not usually passed from a parent to a child, and there is often no family history of epilepsy. However, there are some types of epilepsy which may be more likely to be inherited than others. This means that it may be passed from a parent to a child.  

The types of epilepsy known to have a genetic cause include:  

• Self-limited epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (SeLECTS), previously known as benign rolandic epilepsy
• Temporal lobe epilepsy
• Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
• Juvenile absence epilepsy

Other genetic conditions are known to cause epilepsy, e.g. tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumours to grow in the brain and on other important organs. 

In around 3 in every 4 cases of tuberous sclerosis, the genetic mutation occurs for no clear reason in people who have no family members with the condition. In the other 1 in 4 cases, the gene mutation is passed on to a child by a parent. 

If I have epilepsy, will my child inherit it?

Most genetic causes of epilepsy are caused by a gene mutation (a change in the gene), which is not inherited from a parent. In most cases, there is no family history of epilepsy. 

If a parent has epilepsy, it’s impossible to say for sure whether your child will inherit epilepsy because you have it. This is because there are many types of epilepsy, as well as many different factors that can affect whether your child may inherit it or not. 

Some people’s brains are naturally less able to cope with a burst of electrical activity. This is known as a low seizure threshold. It’s thought this has a genetic cause. 

One of our research projects is currently looking into the link between genes and epilepsy. 

Changes in brain structure and metabolic disorders

For some people, epilepsy can be caused by changes in brain structure and metabolic disorders. Examples of these changes include: 

• brain damage  
• a change in the balance of chemicals in the body needed to produce electrical signals.  

These changes in the brain may happen if a person has:  

• damage to the brain during development in the womb or at birth 
• bleeding in the brain 
• infections in the brain 
• head injury 
• growths or tumours in the brain 
• an underlying brain condition 
• a stroke 
• metabolic conditions such as hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) or abnormal calcium metabolism 
• drugs and alcohol. 

The causes of epilepsy in babies and young children

Epilepsy in babies and young children is different to epilepsy in older children and adults. This is because children’s brains are less developed than adults and are still developing quickly.  

Some babies and young children will have seizures for a short time only and seizures may stop as they get older. For others, the seizures may return later on. Or in some cases, they can continue throughout childhood.   

The causes of epilepsy in babies and young children, usually falls into three groups: 

• genetic causes 
• brain structure changes or metabolic disorders  
• unknown – we do not know what causes epilepsy in most people. More research is needed to know for sure.  

Changes in brain structure and metabolic disorders in babies and young children

Epilepsy in babies and young children may be caused by structural and metabolic changes in the brain. Common causes for these brain changes in babies and young children include:  

• premature birth, which can cause haemorrhages (bleeds) in the brain tissue 
• birth trauma, which can result in hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and damage to brain tissue 
• serious infections affecting the brain 
• abnormal development of the brain’s structure during pregnancy. 

How can I be sure if my child has epilepsy?

It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose the cause of seizures in babies and young children. This is because young children can experience unexpected incidents, similar to epileptic seizures, which can affect their movement, breathing or alertness for other reasons. For example, benign neonatal sleep myoclonus (repetitive myoclonic jerks that occur during sleep, usually from birth to six months old). These types of incidents may be confused for epilepsy.  

However, if your child has had a seizure, or you think they have epilepsy, always see their GP to get their symptoms checked out. It’s important that they receive a diagnosis of epilepsy if they have it, and for their doctor to identify the cause of their epilepsy. This will help your child’s medical team work out how they will develop. It also means they will get the right support and treatment to help them manage their seizures well in the long-term. 

Find out more about epilepsy treatments.

Other useful organisations 

NHS website 

www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy 

Information about epilepsy, including what causes it, getting a diagnosis and treatment.