Epilepsy--the mere word often conjures images that are either terribly frightening or simply inaccurate. And despite being first documented by Hippocrates in 400 B.C., the cause of this brain disorder, which is primarily characterized by recurrent seizures, is still largely a mystery.

That said, scientists have come a long way in developing treatments to control seizures and in determining what is not true about epilepsy. Here, we dispel five of the most prevalent myths about the condition.

Myth 1:

Epilepsy is contagious

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Reality: Epilepsy isn't like a cold or fluyou can't catch it from someone who has it. Approximately 75 percent of all cases have no known cause. Of the remaining 25 percent, causes may include developmental abnormalities, birth injuries, head or brain traumas, strokes, or tumors.

Myth 2:

Epilepsy is a form of mental illness

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Reality: Although some epileptics may also have a mental illness, there is no direct link between the two. Epileptic seizures are triggered by abnormal electrical discharges, not necessarily by the chemical imbalances that are known to occur in the brains of individuals who suffer from depression or other mental illnesses.

Myth 3:

You can swallow your tongue during an epileptic seizure

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Reality: This is potentially one of the most dangerous epilepsy myths. It is not actually possible to swallow your own tongue, and putting something into the mouth of a person having a seizure to stop her from swallowing her tongue could block her airway.

Myth 4:

Epileptics are typically of less-than-average intelligence

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Reality: Epilepsy is not an indicator of intelligence. Individuals of all levels of intelligence are affected by the condition. In fact, some of history's most notably intelligent figures, such as Julius Caesar, Socrates, and Charles Dickens, were epileptics.

Myth 5:

Epilepsy is an extremely rare condition

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Reality: Epilepsy is far more common than most people believe it to be. An estimated 50 million individuals worldwide are living with the condition. More than 3 million Americans have epilepsy, and about 200,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States every year, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.