Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes signals to be sent improperly from the brain. These confused signals cause seizures (involuntary sensations, movements or convulsions). Epilepsy can begin at any age and can be caused by brain damage or injury, abnormal development or an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
Epilepsy is a disease where there is still a lot of misunderstanding. At the
Krembil Brain Institute, we know about the physical and emotional hardships that can come with this disease, and we know about its social consequences. Our goal is to work with community organizations so that patients are able to bridge their medical care with the necessary support needed to live life to the fullest.
We're working on new treatments to lessen the effect of seizures and improve quality of life. Ensuring patients get better treatment, also means improving our ability to diagnose patients. Our Comprehensive Epilepsy Genetics Program can help us diagnose and treat patients with epilepsy who have a family history or when patients have multiple neurological conditions.
Treatments
Multiple treatment options are available at the Krembil Brain Institute. In addition to medication for epilepsy, we also offer surgical treatment for patients who are candidates. We also have Toronto's only adult
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). The EMU plays an important role in diagnosing the type of seizures a patient has and the area of the brain where they occur. This information can help your health care team decide if surgery is a treatment option for you.
Our centre is home to the province's first Gamma Knife – a non-invasive treatment also known as radiosurgery. Our doctors are reviewing it as a possible way of dealing with inaccessible brain tumours which may cause seizures.
The Krembil Brain Institute has pioneering Deep Brain Stimulation to deal with conditions such as Parkinson's disease and depression. So far, the research shows this treatment could also be an effective way of cutting down the number of epileptic seizures a patient might have.
How to Prepare
Your first appointment can take one hour or more. Follow-up appointments usually take about 15 minutes to half an hour.
Learn more about
what you can expect when you have a clinic appointment.
