My son Alex, age 18, had his first seizure at a viewing of the new Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn. Like other people who have reported seizures across the country, Alex experienced the seizure during the birth scene, which included intense flashes of red, white, and black.
To date, Breaking Dawn doesn't include a warning about seizures, although first and second-hand reports have appeared in newspapers and on websites through the U.S. and in England. The story has been reported by The New York Times, Channel 7 Eyewitness News, the Guardian and The Epilepsy Foundation. There is also an informative Facebook page called Twilight Breaking Dawn Seizures. If you know of a someone who had a seizure during this movie, please report it here. (continued below)
Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and are a particular risk for children with autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. They may begin in early childhood or as late as adolescence. They may include a temporary period of unconsciousness, a body convulsion, unusual movements, or staring spells. A lack of sleep or a high fever may increase the risk of having a seizure. Photosensitive epilepsy is a condition in which exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or to certain visual patterns can trigger a seizure.
In 1997, in hundreds of Japanese viewers of the Pokemon cartoon were hospitalized for seizures. Flashing lights in video games are also a culprit, and some video games include a warning for people prone to seizure activity. For more about video games and seizures, click here.
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