Epilepsy

Epilepsy affects around 630,000 people in the UK – roughly 1 in every 100 – and is characterised by recurrent seizures caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain.^1,2 With appropriate treatment, more than 60% of people with epilepsy could become seizure-free.³ UCB has worked in epilepsy care for almost 30 years, with a particular focus on drug-resistant and rare forms of the condition.

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes seizures. An epileptic seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affects how it works.^1,2

There are two main types of epileptic seizures – focal and generalised – based on where they start in the brain:

• In focal seizures, they start on one side of the brain and can spread to both sides.⁴
  • The symptoms of focal seizures depend on which area of the brain is affected, and whether the seizure spreads to affect other areas of the brain.^4,5 
• Tonic-clonic (or generalised) seizures appear to begin on both sides of the brain at the same time. They cause loss of consciousness or awareness and may also cause abnormal movements on both sides of the body.^4,6

The cause of epilepsy is often unclear for many people. It's thought that epilepsy is often related to the genes you inherit from your parents, or to changes in your genes, but can sometimes also be caused by damage to your brain, for example after a head injury, a stroke or an infection.⁷

Epilepsy affects around 630,000 people in the UK – or around one in every 100.¹

There is currently no cure for most forms of epilepsy , but it is estimated that with the appropriate treatment, more than 60% of people with the condition could be seizure free.³ The aim of treatment is to enable patients to lead a life as normal as possible, free from seizures and with minimal or no side effects.

Epilepsy affects everyone differently. Beyond the physical symptoms of epileptic seizures, their profound impact on mental wellbeing, relationships, education, employment and overall quality of life can be significant.^8,9 Seizures can be unpredictable which can create ongoing anxiety, fear, and a loss of confidence, while higher levels of anxiety, depression, and societal stigma have been shown to be associated with poorer quality of life in people with epilepsy and there is significant stigma associated with the condition.^8,9

Social stigma remains one of the greatest burdens of the condition, with many people experiencing discrimination, social isolation, reduced self-esteem, and concerns about disclosing their diagnosis, which can sometimes be more distressing than the seizures themselves.^9,10

Despite advances in treatment, significant unmet needs remain in epilepsy care, particularly for people living with drug-resistant, severe and rare epilepsies where few options exist, including improving recognition and diagnosis, strengthening support for patients and families, reducing variations in care, and ensuring people can access appropriate services and care pathways.

UCB has worked towards improving epilepsy care for almost 30 years, striving to address these key challenges and improve outcomes for patients. In the UK, UCB supported the development of the Step Together toolkit by Epilepsy Action, helping local areas assess how well they meet the needs of people with epilepsy and identifying opportunities to enhance services.

We also collaborate with UK Rare Epilepsies Together (UKRET) to improve care for people with drug-resistant epilepsy. This work has included supporting research to identify gaps in care for people with rare and complex epilepsies and exploring solutions to improve recognition of the condition, strengthen support systems for patients and families, and enhance care pathways.

In Ireland, UCB has supported the establishment of an Epilepsy Patient Registry, in partnership with FutureNeuro and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), contributing to a better understanding of epilepsy and helping to inform future improvements in care.

To learn more about epilepsy and the communities and support available, head to Epilepsy Action and Young Epilepsy.

_{1. Epilepsy Action. What is epilepsy? Available at: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/what-is-epilepsy Last accessed: October 2026}

_{2. Epilepsy Foundation. Understanding Seizures. Available at: https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/understanding-seizures Last accessed: October 2026} 

_{3. Epilepsy Action. Epilepsy facts, figures and terminology. https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/press/facts Last accessed: October 2026} 

_{4. CDC. Epilepsy – Types of Seizures. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/types-of-seizures.html Last accessed: October 2026} 

_{5. Focal Seizures. Epilepsy action. https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/seizures/focal-seizures Last accessed: October 2026} 

_{6. Tonic Clonic seizures. Epilepsy Action. https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/seizures/tonic-clonic Last accessed: October 2026} 

_{7. NHS. Epilepsy. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/ Last accessed: October 2026} 

_{8. Çamcı G, et al. How do anxiety, depression, and stigma affect quality of life in people with epilepsy? Epilepsy & Behavior, 2025; 167; DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110399} 

_{9. Souza JL, et al., The Perceived Social Stigma of People with Epilepsy with regard to the Question of Employability. Neurology Research International 13;2018:4140508.} 

_{10. Becker DA. The Stigmatizing Impact of Perceived Epilepsy Stigma. Epilepsy Curr. 2025 Apr 16;25(4):263-265. doi: 10.1177/15357597251325682.} 

Last updated: October 2026

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