Epileptogenesis

Epileptogenesis refers to the gradual process through which a previously non-epileptic brain undergoes pathological changes that ultimately lead to the development of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures, which are episodes of abnormal, hypersynchronous neuronal firing.

It encompasses the transformation of neuronal networks following an initial insult, such as trauma, infection, or prolonged seizures, resulting in a brain capable of generating spontaneous recurrent seizures. This process is distinct from ictogenesis, which describes the immediate mechanisms underlying the initiation of individual seizure events. While ictogenesis accounts for seizure generation, epileptogenesis involves the long-term alterations that predispose the brain to recurrent seizures.