Epilepsy

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Oct. 14, 2025

Research

Mayo Clinic experts trained in neurology, neurosurgery and other areas study genetics, risks, potential diagnostic tests and treatments for epilepsy.

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed and studied many diagnostic and treatment tools for epilepsy. They include magnetic resonance imaging, subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered to MRI (SISCOM), electroencephalography, ketogenic diet, deep brain stimulation, epilepsy surgery and many others. Read more about Mayo Clinic research in epilepsy and bioelectronics neurophysiology.

Publications

See a list of publications about epilepsy by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

  1. Epilepsy and seizures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/epilepsy-and-seizures. Accessed Aug. 14, 2023.
  2. Schachter SC. Evaluation and management of the first seizure in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 3, 2021.
  3. First aid for seizures. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/first-aid-for-seizures/. Accessed July 6, 2025.
  4. Jankovic J, et al., eds. Epilepsies. In: Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 27, 2023.
  5. Wilfong A. Seizures and epilepsy in children: Classification, etiology, and clinical features. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 30, 2023.
  6. Ropper AH, et al. Epilepsy and other seizure disorders. In: Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 12th ed. McGraw Hill; 2023. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Aug. 11, 2023.
  7. Ferri FF. Seizures, Generalized Tonic Clonic. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2026. Elsevier; 2026. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 13, 2025.
  8. Starnes K, et al. Presurgical evaluation strategies for intractable epilepsy of childhood. Seminars in Pediatric Neurology. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.spen.2021.100915.
  9. Who can get epilepsy? Epilepsy Foundation. https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/understanding-seizures/who-gets-epilepsy. Accessed July 6, 2025.
  10. Kellerman RD, et al. Seizures and epilepsy in adolescents and adults. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2025. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 6, 2025.
  11. Papadakis MA, et al., eds. Epilepsy. In: Quick Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2025. McGraw Hill; 2025. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed July 6, 2025.
  12. Goldman L, et al, eds. The epilepsies. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 11, 2023.
  13. Longo D, et al., eds. Seizures and epilepsy. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 22nd ed. McGraw Hill; 2025. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed July 6, 2025.
  14. Seizure disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/seizure-disorders/seizure-disorders?query=epilepsy. Accessed Aug. 11, 2023.
  15. Antiseizure medications. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/seizure-disorders/antiseizure-medications. Accessed July 6, 2025.
  16. Tian Y, et al. Trends and hotspots in gene research of epilepsy in children: A review and bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2022. Medicine. 2023; doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034417.
  17. Formica C, et al. The role of high-density EEG in diagnosis and prognosis of neurological diseases: A systematic review. Clinical Neurophysiology. 2025; doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2025.03.026.
  18. Quinones-Hinojosa A, et al., eds. Mapping, disconnection and resective surgery in pediatric epilepsy. In: Schmidek & Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 14, 2023.
  19. Ferri FF. Focal seizures. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2026. Elsevier; 2026. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 13, 2025.
  20. Epilepsy basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/?CDC. Accessed July 20, 2025.
  21. Fourtz TJ, et al. Brain stimulation treatments in epilepsy: Basic mechanisms and clinical advances. Biomedical Journal. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.bj.2021.08.010.
  22. National Association of Epilepsy Centers. https://www.naec-epilepsy.org. Accessed July 20, 2025.
  23. Harris KM. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. May 20, 2025.
  24. Imdad K, et al. The metabolic role of ketogenic diets in treating epilepsy. Nutrients. 2022; doi:10.3390/nu14235074.
  25. Elmer S, et al. Therapeutic basis of generic substitution of antiseizure medications. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapies. 2022; doi:10.1124/jpet.121.000994.
  26. Alcala-Zermeno JL, et al. Invasive neuromodulation for epilepsy: Comparison of multiple approaches from a single center. Epilepsy and Behavior. 2022; doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108951.
  27. Lundstrom BL, et al. Emerging approaches in neurostimulation for epilepsy. Current Opinion in Neurology. 2023; doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001138.