Frontal lobe epilepsy: Causes, symptoms, treatment, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What to know about frontal lobe epilepsyMedically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — By Joanne Lewsley on April 5, 2022Frontal lobe epilepsy causes seizures that begin in the part of the brain responsible for movement, personality, and planning. In most cases, there is no known cause, but possible factors include traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and nervous system infections. Around 1.2% of the total United States population lives with epilepsy, and frontal lobe epilepsy is one of the most prevalent forms of the condition. It is the second most common type of focal epilepsy. Doctors treat the condition with a combination of medication and diet changes and, in some instances, surgery or neuromodulation. Read more to learn about frontal lobe epilepsy symptoms, causes, treatment options, and more. What are frontal lobe seizures Share on PinterestToni Rantala/EyeEm/Getty ImagesEpilepsy is a neurological disorder that makes the brain have bursts of abnormal activity, causing seizures. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), there are two categories of epileptic seizures: primary generalized seizures and partial seizures (also called focal seizures). A frontal lobe seizure is a partial seizure because it starts in one part of the brain — the frontal lobe. This is the part of the brain responsible for producing speech and language, forming memories, understanding others, and more. Because of this, frontal lobe seizures can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Causes of frontal lobe epilepsy About 20–40% of all cases of epilepsy are idiopathic, according to 2003 research. This means they happen for no apparent reason, and doctors cannot determine a cause. While some instances of frontal lobe epilepsy are idiopathic, others have known causes. These include:traumatic brain injurygeneticsstrokeinfectionbrain abnormality present from birthbrain tumor The AANS highlights certain factors that increase the likelihood of a seizure in a person who has epilepsy. These include:stresssleep deprivationfatiguehungeralcoholdrug misusedifficulty taking medication for epilepsy on schedule Symptoms Frontal lobe epilepsy symptoms can vary from person to person and can differ depending on which part of the frontal lobe the seizures affect. An individual’s seizures will typically have consistent symptoms, but sometimes they may occur with new or different symptoms. These may indicate a change in brain activity or a potential problem. Frontal lobe seizures are often brief. Symptoms may include:jerking on one side of the bodystiffness or twitchinga “wave” feeling going through the headlack of responsivenessurinary incontinence Treatment Doctors typically treat frontal lobe epilepsy with medication, surgery, and neuromodulation. In some cases, they may also recommend dietary changes. Medication A doctor may prescribe antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) such as oxcarbazepine. According to the AANS, up to 70% of people with epilepsy can manage their seizures with AEDs. If a person does not respond to medication, diet or surgery may help their symptoms. Neuromodulation If medication does not work, a doctor may recommend neuromodulation therapy for seizures. This involves stimulating parts of the brain to change the activity of brain cells. Types of neuromodulation include:Vagus nerve stimulation: A doctor implants a device under the skin on the chest and threads a wire from this device to the vagus nerve. This sends signals along the wire and nerve to the brain stem. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a noninvasive device for stimulating the vagus nerve.Closed-loop responsive neurostimulation: This involves putting an implant in the skull to monitor the brain. It sends signals when it detects the beginning of a seizure.Deep brain stimulation: A neurosurgeon implants electrodes in the brain. These transmit constant or intermittent signals to modulate the brain’s activity, reducing the frequency of seizures. According to a 2021 study published in The Lancet, more than half of people who experience seizures saw a long-term reduction in seizures after neuromodulation therapy. Doctors typically prefer this type of therapy over surgery because it is safer, reversible, and less invasive. Surgery If medication and neuromodulation have no effect on a person’s seizures, a doctor may recommend surgery. This involves removing the part of the frontal lobe where the seizures start. Before the operation, healthcare professionals will carefully monitor a person to pinpoint exactly which part of the brain causes the seizures. This also helps the surgeon avoid areas of the brain that control important functions. Diet Doctors sometimes recommend a ketogenic diet for people with epilepsy who do not respond to medication. This is a diet that is high in fat and contains very few or no carbohydrates. According to research, the ketogenic diet has helped more than half of people see an improvement in seizure management, and 1 in 10 people avoid seizures altogether. However, the study participants were selected because their conditions were most likely to respond positively to this diet, so these results do not account for all people with epilepsy. Although it can help some people, it is a very strict diet and can be hard to follow. Doctors usually reserve it for treating refractory seizures associated with conditions such as Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Complications Complications of frontal lobe epilepsy may include:Injuries: The loss of motor control during a seizure can result in injuries such as cuts, bruises, and fractures. Sometimes, a person may unintentionally bite their tongue during a seizure.Status epilepticus: This describes either a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or back-to-back seizures without a return to consciousness in between. This is a medical emergency that needs urgent treatment.Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die each year without any known cause. Most of these deaths occur during or immediately after a seizure. Outlook People with frontal lobe epilepsy may be able to manage or reduce seizures with the right medication, diet, or surgery. Reducing seizures can help minimize the risk of complications developing. However, some people may need to stay on medication for the rest of their lives to manage their seizures. Summary Frontal lobe epilepsy is a common form of epilepsy causing brief seizures. With the right treatment — such as medication, diet, surgery, neuromodulation, or a combination of these — a person may be able to manage or reduce their seizures. Complications include injuries sustained during a seizure and more rarely, brain damage or death. Last medically reviewed on April 5, 2022EpilepsyNeurology / Neuroscience 10 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.De Novo classification request for gammaCore non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator. (2015).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/reviews/DEN150048.pdfEpilepsy. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/index.htmlEpilepsy. (n.d.).https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/EpilepsyFocal aware seizures (previously called simple partial seizures). (2018).https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/about-epilepsy/epileptic-seizures/focal-aware-seizuresKlugah-Brown, B., et al. (2019). Altered structural and causal connectivity in frontal lobe epilepsy.https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-019-1300-zMarini, C., et al. (2003). Idiopathic generalised epilepsy of adult onset: Clinical syndromes and genetics.https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/74/2/192Ryvlin, P., et al. (2021). Neuromodulation in epilepsy: State-of-the-art approved therapies [Abstract].https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(21)00300-8/fulltextStatus epilepticus and emergency treatment. (2019).https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/firstaid/emergency-treatment-seizures-last-long-timeThe epilepsies and seizures: Hope through research. (2020).https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/hope-through-research/epilepsies-and-seizures-hope-through#3109_30Wu, X., et al. (2019). Altered intrinsic brain activity associated with outcome in frontal lobe epilepsy.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-45413-7?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PHSS_ALWYS_PRODUCT&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID1000900FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — By Joanne Lewsley on April 5, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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