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The history of epilepsy: how did ancient people understand epileptic symptoms?
Epilepsy, a mysterious disease that has accompanied humans from ancient times to the present, has a long history and has a wide impact on humans. From Mesopotamia 2,500 years ago to modern neuroscience's in-depth understanding of epilepsy, we can see the transformation of the understanding of epilepsy symptoms from superstition and culture to science. How different cultures interpret and respond to epilepsy profoundly affects patients' lives and medical treatment.
Epilepsy is a sudden seizure caused by abnormal excessive or synchronized activity of neurons in the brain.
As early as 2500 BC, the Sumerians had written records about epilepsy; by 1050 BC, Babylonian scholars had developed the first classification of epilepsy, which was recorded in their stone tablet document Sakikku. Clearly recorded.
Their early classification included different types such as febrile epilepsy, absence epilepsy and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, showing the initial understanding of epilepsy. As time went on, knowledge accumulated until the 18th century, when Samuel-Auguste Tissot wrote De Cure Epilepsy, in which he further classified generalized tonic-clonic seizures and absence epilepsy. .
The evolution of the categories has led to a clearer understanding of epilepsy in the medical community.
Early researchers such as Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol introduced the terms "grand mal" and "petit mal" to describe these forms of seizures. In 1937, Gibbs and Lennox further defined psychomotor epilepsy as seizures accompanied by "psychological, emotional, motor, and autonomic phenomena."
In 1969, Henri Gastaut promoted the ILAE (International League of Epilepsy) to classify epilepsy, which included clinical seizure type, electroencephalogram (EEG), anatomical structure, etiology and age of onset. The ILAE further revised it in 1981, incorporating EEG-video data but excluding structural explanations of the crisis and considering these factors to be "historical or speculative".
The new ILAE 2017 classification system more accurately reflects clinical practice, using observed seizure behavior and additional data to determine epilepsy type.
This series of evolutions shows the gradual deepening of our understanding of epilepsy, which is not only a recognition of the nature of the disease, but also a symbol of human cultural and scientific progress.
Regarding the classification of convulsions, epileptic seizures can be mainly divided into two categories: partial seizures and generalized seizures. Focal seizures originate from a biological neural network within one cerebral hemisphere, while generalized seizures rapidly spread to both hemispheres.
Epileptic symptoms and behaviors, neuroimaging tests, etiology, electroencephalography (EEG), and video recordings can help distinguish focal from generalized seizures.
In further research, epilepsy symptoms are also divided into conscious and impaired consciousness, which is not only a need for medical diagnosis, but also plays an important role in the patient's quality of life. When consciousness is not impaired during a seizure, it is usually called "disordered consciousness", while if consciousness is impaired it is called "impaired consciousness".
In addition, motor and non-motor seizures of epilepsy also provide a more comprehensive understanding of epilepsy. Motor seizures can be further divided into atonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, etc. Nonmotor seizures may be accompanied by sensory, cognitive, or emotional symptoms, allowing clinicians to more precisely identify and treat patients.
Such classification and description not only provide a basis for medical treatment, but also provide a framework for social understanding of epilepsy patients.
With the deepening of research, the classification launched by ILAE in 2017 has been further optimized to focus on the state of consciousness, which marks a significant progress in the understanding of epilepsy symptoms and reflects the actual needs of clinical practice. During this transformation process, the ancient understanding of epilepsy remains a brilliant historical glory, reflecting every step of the development of modern medicine.
In the context of ancient and future medicine, how can humans better understand the symptoms of epilepsy and the cultural significance behind them?
