Epilepsy Causes & Risk Factors

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that disrupts the functions of nerve cells in the brain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The disorder, which causes seizures, can affect people at different ages.

Causes: Babies and Children

• A deficiency of oxygen, maternal drug use and infections can cause epilepsy in fetuses. The Epilepsy Foundation states that epilepsy in babies can also result from brain malformations or low blood sugar or blood calcium levels. Children who get a high fever during childhood sometimes develop seizures and/or epilepsy later in life, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Causes: Adults

• Medical conditions that can lead to epilepsy in adults include dementia, strokes, heart attacks, sleep deprivation, viral encephalitis, HIV and AIDS, and Alzheimer's disease.

Causes: Adults and Children

• In children and adults, head trauma and lead or carbon dioxide poisoning can cause epilepsy, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Developmental disorders, such as autism and Down syndrome, can also cause epilepsy.

Risk Factors: Family History

• People who have family members with epilepsy have a greater risk of developing the disorder than those with no family history of epilepsy. There are certain forms of epilepsy that are spread through family genes.

Risk Factors: Habits

• The Mayo Clinic states that people who use illegal drugs, smoke cigarettes, have an unhealthy diet and/or do not exercise regularly are more at risk for developing epilepsy or epilepsy-related conditions than people with a healthy lifestyle.

Risk Factors: Age and Sex

• Children and people over 65 are the groups that are most at risk for developing epilepsy. Males are more at risk than females for getting the disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic.