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Epilepsy is a kind of brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. More than 2 million people in the United States about 1 in 100 have experienced an unprovoked seizure or been diagnosed with epilepsy. Brain is a highly complex electrical system, powered by roughly 80 pulses of energy per second. These pulses move back and forth between nerve cells to produce thoughts, feelings, and memories. An epileptic seizure occurs when these energy pulses come much more rapidly-as many as 500 per second for a short time-due to an electrical abnormality in the brain. Any kind of changes in the brain is known as epileptic seizure. Epilepsy is not contagious.

Causes:

• Epilepsy may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or some combination of these factors.
• In some cases, the brain's attempts to repair itself after a head injury, stroke, or other problem may inadvertently generate abnormal nerve connections that lead to epilepsy.
• Research suggests that genetic abnormalities may be some of the most important factors contributing to epilepsy.
• Epilepsy develops as a result of brain damage from other disorders like brain tumors, alcoholism, and Alzheimer's disease.
• Seizures can result from exposure to lead, carbon monoxide, and many other poisons.

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Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS).

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