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The understanding and treatment of epilepsy has improved considerably over the past fifty years. Most of this improvement has resulted from basic scientific research into how and why epileptic seizures start, and from the development of safer and more effective anti-epileptic drugs by the pharmaceutical industry. However, there is still much work which needs to be carried out, not just to improve our understanding and knowledge, but to improve the quality of life of a child or man or woman with epilepsy.

It is unlikely that a single ‘cure’ for all epileptic seizures and epilepsies will be found, due to the fact that there are so many different causes and types of epilepsy. It is also very unlikely that epilepsies will ever be completely prevented from occurring in the first place. A proportion of the epilepsies are inherited. It is improbable that much can be done to prevent these epilepsies, and it may not be possible (or appropriate) to remove these abnormal genes by ‘genetic engineering’ techniques. However, improved medical care should reduce the numbers of patients who develop epilepsy after meningitis or encephalitis. Improved safety measures on the roads, in cars, and the wider use of cycle helmets and protective head gear on industrial sites should reduce the incidence of posttraumatic epilepsy. In developing countries, better obstetric care and public health measures to eradicate parasitic diseases, (particularly cysticercosis) and bacterial diseases (particularly tuberculosis and other causes of meningitis) will play a part.

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