Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes recurrent seizures, which aren't a direct result of injury or illness. Frontal lobe epilepsy affects only the front regions of the brain (frontal lobes), which are responsible for thinking and control of voluntary movement. This disorder is associated with partial seizures, which mean only one part of the brain is affected. Signs and symptoms of partial seizures include:
- Staring spells
- Confusion
- Behavior changes
A doctor may make a diagnosis of epilepsy by:
- Electroencephalogram, a test that monitors brain waves
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain
Treatment of frontal lobe epilepsy may include:
- Anti-seizure medications
- Surgery to remove the portion of the brain that's causing the seizures
- Vagus nerve stimulation, in which a small device implanted in the chest transmits pulses of electrical energy to the brain
