More people live with epilepsy than with autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy combined. But silence, fear and myths around epilepsy persist in every community, including African American communities.
Lack of awareness about the condition, challenges accessing health care and health information, and misinformation and fear associated with the condition make it hard for many African Americans with epilepsy and their families to live full and healthy lives.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 637,000 African Americans have been told by a physician or health care professional that they had epilepsy or a seizure disorder. About 375,000 African Americans have active epilepsy, which means they have been told they have epilepsy or a seizure disorder and are taking seizure medication or had at least one seizure in the past year. Over 20,000 African Americans are diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy each year.
African Americans are also:
- More likely to be diagnosed with epilepsy in an emergency room than white Americans*
- More likely to develop epilepsy over a lifetime (called lifetime prevalence) than white Americans*
- Likely to experience status epilepticus, a medical emergency in which a seizure continues for 10 minutes or more without stopping
- Less likely to experience active epilepsy (which means that the person’s seizures are not completely controlled) than white Americans*
*Source:
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013.
CDC. MMWR 2012, Nov 16;61(45):909-913.
National Research Council. (2012). Epilepsy Across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Facts About Epilepsy
- What is Epilepsy?
- Who Gets Epilepsy?
- What is a Seizure?
- Seizure First Aid
- Facts about Seizures and Epilepsy
Life with Epilepsy
News Release, "NFL Star Jason Snelling Speaks Up About Living With Epilepsy," November 15, 2010
Resources
- Find Your Local Epilepsy Foundation
- Information for Parents
- Information for Women
- Information for Youth
- Information for Seniors
Raising Awareness
- Update on Reaching Out to Minority Communities for Black History Month 2019
- Black History Month 2016: #DareTo Learn about Epilepsy in the African American Community
- African American Outreach
- African American and Hispanic Transition Youth and Young Adult Outreach: Futhering Campus-Community Partnerships for Epilepsy Education, Summer 2012
Stories
- Epilepsy's Inner Light: Paul's Story for Black History Month 2017
- Amanda's Story for Black History Month 2017
- How Has Epilepsy Impacted My Life? by Gail Valentine for Black History Month 2017
"I want my blessings of recovery and employment to inspire others living with a disability.”
– Denise Pease, in "Denise Pease's Story: A 21st Century Government," The White House Blog
