Recent studies answer the question
He said, "I used to have seizures when I was young. My mother and father didn’t know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had."
She once wrote, "There’s no reason why a person with epilepsy can’t play sports or pursue their dreams." Gunn is a spokeswoman for the Epilepsy Therapy Project.
Sources: (Healthline) (Rolling Stone) (People)
Prince spent many of his early years as an epilepsy sufferer. In 2009, he gave an interview in which he spoke for the first time about how it affected his life.
Ice hockey player Chanda Gunn was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was nine, and has lived with the condition ever since. She has previously spoken about how it doesn't hold her back.
Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who rose to fame after her 2009 appearance on 'Britain's Got Talent,' has previously revealed that she struggled with epilepsy as a child.
Now in his seventies, he has not suffered a stroke since the age of 35. He attributes his ability to overcome the condition to his learning to recognize the warning signs of an episode.
Greene now avoids late nights and alcohol, which were diagnosed as triggering his seizures. The professional hurdler acts as an ambassador for the charity Young Epilepsy.
Former football running back Jason Snelling was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was in college, but he was able to manage his condition with medication and make it as a professional athlete.
Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham suffers from a mild form of epilepsy. He was diagnosed with the condition back in 1977.
Speaking of his treatment, he has said that his doctor "didn’t tell me to do too much that a human doesn’t do anyway. Sleep and eat right, that’s about it."
Snelling works with the Epilepsy Foundation and has previously offered words of encouragement to those also suffering with the condition: "Epilepsy can be managed, and you can go on and do whatever you want to do."
Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young has lived with epilepsy for years, although he manages to control the condition. He also helps his daughter, who suffers from it, too.
Lee is a prominent advocate for epilepsy awareness. She is the American chairperson for the international epilepsy awareness foundation Out of the Shadows.
In his memoir 'Waging Heavy Peace,' he wrote about his epilepsy and even described an "excruciating" treatment that he went through, which unfortunately didn't help his condition.
He once told The New York Times that as a teenager, "I felt like a freak. You live scared that somebody is going to find out, and they’re going to think less of you. You’re living in the shadows."
Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' fame lives with epilepsy and has spoken about how he was forced to spend a lot of time alone at home as a child.
He has said, "Because of my seizures, I was forced to spend a lot of time in bed in my room away from the television when I was a kid … The best way to entertain myself was to read, so I became very interested in history books."
Actor Danny Glover, who is best known for his role as Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film series, used to suffer from epilepsy as a youngster.
It's a well-known fact that Elton John struggled with drug and alcohol abuse during his early career. It is less well known that this abuse caused a number of seizures.
British Olympian Dai Greene is an epileptic, but he hasn't suffered a seizure in years. In 2011, he spoke to The Guardian about how lifestyle changes had made all the difference.
The band was coming to the end of the US leg of the Rumours tour at the time, and Buckingham collapsed in the shower in a Philadelphia hotel room.
He hasn't let it hold him back, and he's been open about his condition. He once told The Guardian, "People always thought I was laid back, but I was basically doped for 30 years on epilepsy drugs."
She has spoken openly about her experience of the condition, and the way in which she believed the adults in her life when they told her it was due to a mental defect.
Rapper Lil Wayne is one of the most famous person to suffer with epilepsy. He has spoken openly about his condition and how it affects his life and career.
Evanescence front woman Amy Lee lost her brother, who suffered from severe epilepsy for most of his life, in 2018. Sources suggest the singer herself suffers from it, too.
The singer once told 'The Today Show,' "I came very close to dying. I’d have an epileptic seizure and turn blue and people would find me on the floor and put me to bed."
Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Faneca was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of the 15. He enjoyed success as an athlete, but has spoken publicly about living in fear.
Former member of the Beastie Boys Adam Horovitz, who is better known by his stage name Ad-Rock, revealed in 2003 that he suffers from epilepsy.
The revelation came after he suffered a tonic-clonic seizure (otherwise known as a grand mal seizure) that left him needing to wear a medical bracelet.
Actor Hugo Weaving, who is best known internationally for his roles in 'The Matrix' and 'The Lord of the Rings,' was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was a teenager.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes mild to severe seizures in its sufferers. It is possible that anyone may suffer an unexplained seizure during their lifetime, but an epilepsy diagnosis will normally follow when a person suffers two or more unprovoked seizures.
Epilepsy is not often talked about, but it is more common than you might think. As of 2023, there were around 50 million people living with epilepsy worldwide.
Celebrities living with epilepsy
From accomplished actors to music stars and pro athletes
HEALTH Illnesses
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes mild to severe seizures in its sufferers. It is possible that anyone may suffer an unexplained seizure during their lifetime, but an epilepsy diagnosis will normally follow when a person suffers two or more unprovoked seizures.
Epilepsy is not often talked about, but it is more common than you might think. As of 2023, there were around 50 million people living with epilepsy worldwide.
Check out this gallery to see which celebrities are living with epilepsy.