Yes, epilepsy can indeed be caused by events or conditions that affect the brain such as injury, infection, and stroke. These causes fall under the category of structural brain abnormalities that increase the risk of seizures. For example:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can increase the risk of epilepsy, with severity of injury influencing how much the risk rises.
- Stroke is a major cause of epilepsy, especially in older adults, with a notable percentage of stroke survivors developing epilepsy within a few years of the stroke.
- Brain infections like encephalitis or meningitis can cause inflammation or damage that leads to epilepsy.
- Other causes include brain tumors, brain malformations, and abnormal blood vessel formations such as arteriovenous malformations.
These structural causes are often identified through neuroimaging techniques like MRI that reveal abnormalities likely to generate seizures. Additionally, the risk of developing epilepsy after such brain insults varies depending on factors including the nature and extent of the brain damage.
