Seizure action plans can help people with epilepsy manage their seizures and address emergencies. They often are aimed at a subset of people with epilepsy, particularly children. Dr. Lucretia Long discusses how seizure action plans can be used to engage and educate all people with epilepsy, as well as their families and the larger community.

Seizure action plan examples: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

Online fillable seizure action plan - English (PDF)

Plan de acción de incautación en línea  - espanol (PDF)

List of published research on seizure action plans

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

We discuss the response to the updated classification of seizures with Prof. Eugen Trinka, including why the changes were made and how the changes are being explained and socialized. 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Celebrating International Epilepsy Day (Feb 9) with an episode of strength and hope! Jessie Nyirenda's seizures went undiagnosed for years. She was told she was misbehaving, possessed, and bewitched. She finally diagnosed herself after reading about epilepsy in a library. Taking anti-seizure medication and joining an epilepsy support group changed Jessie's life and made her realize she was no different from anyone else. Now a mother of three and a banking sector specialist, Jessie is active in epilepsy advocacy.

IBE toolkit for reducing stigma in Africa

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A network of more than 60 expert epilepsy teams across Europe: That's EpiCARE. The network aims to improve care for rare and complex epilepsies and reduce inequalities in access to the best diagnostic and treatment practices and investigational tools. Sharp Waves talked to EpiCARE coordinator Dr. Alexis Arzimanoglou about what EpiCARE is, what it isn't, and how it may contribute to changes in epilepsy care across the region and beyond.

For more information:

EpiCARE website

EpiCARE on Instagram (@ern_epicare)

EpiCARE webinars

Patient and caregiver resources

EpiCARE position paper: Areas of research priorities in epilepsy (Epilepsia Open, Jan 2026)

The Declaration on the European Innovation and Care Ecosystem for Rare and Complex Diseases (Dec 2025)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About 1 in 5 people with an intellectual disability (ID) also have epilepsy; among those with profound ID, 1 in 2 also will have epilepsy. In general, people with an ID have higher mortality rates and more chronic conditions than people without an ID; they also face significant health care disparities. Researchers interviewed people with both epilepsy and an ID to understand what they knew about their epilepsy, how they accessed care, and what epilepsy-related information they wanted to have.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

While as many as 1 in 3 first seizures are acute symptomatic seizures, these seizures receive relatively little attention during training. Dr. Ching Soong Khoo speaks with Dr. Marian Galovic about the etiology and management of acute symptomatic seizures and how they may inform outcomes and future epilepsy risk.

Mentioned during the episode:

The SeLECT Consortium 

predictepilepsy.com 

The SeLECT model of developing epilepsy after ischemic stroke

The CAVE model of developing epilepsy after hemorrhagic stroke

The 2HELPS2B score to identify patients most likely to benefit from prolonged EEG

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The latest on Dravet syndrome: Diagnosis, genetic testing, comorbidities, treatment, and more. Dr. Parthvi Ravat interviews Dr. Ingrid Scheffer.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About one-third of people with epilepsy will continue having seizures despite medications. What is the clinical definition of drug-resistant epilepsy? Why does it occur, and is it possible to predict? Dr. Cecilie Nome interviews Dr. Patrick Kwan.

Relevant papers:

Definition of drug resistant epilepsy: Consensus proposal by the ad hoc Task Force of the ILAE Commission on Therapeutic Strategies - Kwan - 2010 - Epilepsia - Wiley Online Library

The costs of epilepsy in Australia | Neurology

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Nearly 1 in 4 people with epilepsy experiences depression, which affects quality of life, seizure control, and adherence to treatment. Depressive symptoms - including suicidality - are one of the strongest predictors of poor quality of life in people with epilepsy, and they can be overlooked or minimized both by people with epilepsy and by clinicians. Sharp Waves spoke with Dr. Rosa Michaelis about the role of neurologists in discussing, screening, diagnosing, and treating depression as a crucial part of patient care.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Is there a fast, simple way to measure whether someone with epilepsy is doing "better" or "worse" compared with a past clinic visit? Not really. Seizure count is often considered a standard, but multiple small seizures may have less impact on someone's life than a single generalized tonic-clonic seizure. In this episode, we talk with authors of a study on an outcome measure that factors the impact of seizures as well as the impact of treatments.

The study: Validation of the seizure-related impact assessment scale 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Closing the epilepsy treatment gap relies heavily on social and cultural acceptance of epilepsy as a brain disorder that can be managed with medication or other therapies. Dr. Rugare Mugumbate discusses the five disadvantages faced by people with epilepsy, as well as the important role of social workers and the need to focus on lessons learned from previous pilot projects and awareness campaigns.

Dr. Mugumbate's book - Epilepsy in Resource Limited Settings: Managing Quality of Life - provides a thorough examination of the impact and understanding of epilepsy in resource-limited areas.

Aimed at a wide variety of health practitioners and stuents, The book is available in multiple formats.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Somatic genetic epilepsies arise from mutations that occur early in fetal development. They are usually only detectable by genetic sequencing of tissue. For these epilepsies, the timing of the mutation is key: For example, research has shown that focal cortical dysplasia type IIB and hemimegaloencephaly are genetically the same disease, but arise from somatic mutations at different developmental time points. This relatively new area of research is discussed by Dr. Alina Ivaniuk and Dr. Christian Bosselmann.

Resources:

Analysis of 1,386 epileptogenic brain lesions reveals association with DYRK1A and EGFR (Nature Communications 2024 - C. Bosselmann et al.)

Neocortical development and epilepsy: Insights from focal cortical dysplasia and brain tumours (The Lancet Neurology 2021 - I. Blumcke et al.)

Contribution of somatic Ras/Raf/Mitogen-activated protein kinase variants in the hippocampus in drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (JAMA Neurology 2023 - S. Khoshkhoo et al.)

Somatic mosaicism and neurodevelopmental disease (Nature Neuroscience 2018 - AM D'Gama and CA Walsh)

BRAF somatic mutation contributes to intrinsic epileptogenicity in pediatric brain tumors (Nature Medicine 2018 - HY Koh et al.)

SLC35A2 loss-of-function variants affect glycomic signatures, neuronal fate and network dynamics (Brain 2025 - D Lai et al.)

Precise detection of low-level somatic mutation in resected epilepsy brain tissue (Acta Neuropathologica 2019 - NS Sim et al.)

Toward a better definition of focal cortical dysplasia: An iterative histopathological and genetic agreement trial (Epilepsia 2021 - I Blumcke et al.)

Seizure outcome and use of antiepileptic drugs after epilepsy surgery according to histopathological diagnosis: A retrospective multicentre cohort study (The Lancet Neurology 2020 - HJ Lamberink et al.)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In a retrospective study of 31 patients with highly refractory epilepsy, 29% had more than a 50% reduction in seizures for at least 12 months after being treated with immunotherapy. Three of these patients became seizure free. Other than a trend toward a diagnosis of focal epilepsy, researchers did not identify any specific features predictive of treatment response. Sharp Waves spoke with the first author about the study and its implications.

The study was published in Epilepsia in April 2025.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What are variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in epilepsy genetic testing? How are they defined, and can those definitions change over time? Sharp Waves talks with Dr. Gemma Carvill as part of our genetic testing series.

RESOURCES

Standards for interpreting variants (American College of Medical Genetics)

Gene Reviews

ClinVar

GeneMatcher

Gnomad

ClinGen

ILAE genetic literacy series

EpiPred website for STXBP1 (developed by EpiMVP project - will be final by end of July)

Think Genetics paper – genetic testing in South Africa project

Link to Sharp Waves episode on genetic testing in LMICs

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This episode covers a wide scope of issues, including treatment options, treatment response, prognosis and the role of seizures versus the underlying etiology, most common etiologies for different age groups, new-onset refractory status (NORSE), and the prevalence and special considerations of non-convulsive status epilepticus.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In use since the 1970s, valproate is highly effective for genetic generalized epilepsies and some forms of pediatric epilepsy. The medication also is associated with a 10% risk of birth defects in children exposed to it in utero, as well as a 30% to 40% risk of neurodevelopmental issues, including autism. Sharp Waves spoke with Dr. Tony Marson about the reproductive risks for women and men taking valproate, discussing UK policies meant to ensure appropriate prescription of valproate and communication about its risks. The recent policy regarding men who take valproate, and the evidence used to support that policy, is discussed near the end of the episode.

Since the episode was recorded, the UK has changed its policy regarding men taking valproate; see this link for more information: February 2025 update on valproate policy in the UK

UK Drug Safety Update page - June 2025

February 2025 update on valproate policy in the UK

Regulatory safety and educational materials on valproate - for health care professionals and patients

Public assessment report: Managing reproductive risks in males under 55 taking valproate

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

ILAE's updated seizure classification position paper was published in Epilepsia in April 2025. Sharp Waves talked with Dr. Sandor Beniczky about the updates and how they will impact research and clinical care.

The position paper is open access and available online.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Seizures cost Stacia Kalinoski her career in broadcast journalism and forced her to give up running. In her new memoir, Kalinoski recounts her journey from first seizure in college to epilepsy surgery years later, describing her seizures, struggles with medication, and challenges coming to terms with her epilepsy.

Kalinoski's book, Racing Uphill, is available July 1, 2025 and can be ordered or pre-ordered online.

Stacia Kalinoski is an Emmy Award–winning TV news journalist from the United States whose documentary Brainstorm was nominated for a regional Emmy Award. Before a seizure ended her broadcast journalism career, she reported for television stations in Nebraska, Oregon, and Michigan. She now shares her story as a motivational speaker.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Work-related stress and burnout are common in physicians, with rates of burnout estimated between 25% and 60%. These stresses impact physician health, patient care, and health care systems as a whole. Sharp Waves spoke with Dr. Sheryl Haut about strategies to identify work stress and mitigate burnout.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Microglia can have protective and also potentially harmful effects in the brain. They seem to be involved in dampening the nervous system during acute seizures – but also appear to play a role in neuronal loss and cortical thinning. Dr. Cecilie Nome spoke with Dr. Amy Brewster about the many faces of microglia and the current understanding of their role in epilepsy and seizures.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Many of the most common concerns of people with epilepsy are topics they don't usually talk about with physicians. This is one of many findings of a study using AI to analyze more than 55,000 posts about epilepsy on Reddit. Sharp Waves spoke with the study's first author and two epilepsy advocates about the results and how they could help initiate important patient-provider conversations. 

PLEASE NOTE: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. If you are in crisis, call your local emergency number or crisis hotline.

The Reddit study is freely available online; no journal subscription is required:

Bridging the conversational gap in epilepsy: Using large language models to reveal insights into patient behavior and concerns from online discussions - Fennig - 2025 - Epilepsia 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Music can affect emotions, spark memories, and influence mood. In cases of musicogenic epilepsy, music can trigger seizures. In other cases, music may reduce seizure frequency. Dr. Cecilie Nome talks with Dr. Phillip Pearl and Prof. Nigel Osborne about the power of music and its effects on the brain.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Links:

Nigel Osborne - Wikipedia

Personalised music as a treatment for epilepsy - Epilepsy & Behavior

Neuroscience and “real world” practice: music as a therapeutic resource for children in zones of conflict - Osborne - 2012 - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences - Wiley Online Library

X-System Overview 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In lower- and middle-income countries, raising awareness of genetic etiologies in epilepsy and genetic testing options may ultimately shift national priorities toward making genetic testing part of the standard of care. Dr. Parthvi Ravat spoke with Dr. Jo Wilmshurst and Dr. Alina Esterhuizen about initiatives to increase awareness of genetics and genetic testing in epilepsy, including a decision tree model for epilepsy care in resource-restricted settings that has been implemented in Africa.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Publication mentioned in the episode:

Precision medicine for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies in Africa—strategies for a resource-limited setting 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

As a neurological emergency, status epilepticus (SE) requires timely diagnosis and treatment. A US study found that 10% of people with SE were not diagnosed by emergency services. Among those who were diagnosed in an ambulance, 20% did not receive any first-line treatment, while others received lower-than-recommended doses. Sharp Waves spoke to senior author Dr. Elan Guterman about the study.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Publications mentioned during the conversation:

Status Epilepticus Identification and Treatment Among Emergency Medical Services Agencies  JAMA Neurology 

A Comparison of Lorazepam, Diazepam, and Placebo for the Treatment of Out-of-Hospital Status Epilepticus | New England Journal of Medicine

Paramedic-Identified Enablers of and Barriers to Pediatric Seizure Management: A Multicenter, Qualitative Study: Prehospital Emergency Care

Emergency response to out-of-hospital status epilepticus | Neurology

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Folic acid supplementation is recommended for all women with epilepsy who may become pregnant. However, there is no agreed-upon dose for women with epilepsy taking antiseizure medication, and there may be risks of high-dose (>1 mg/day) folic acid supplementation. Dr. Bruna Nucera spoke with Dr. Marte Helene Bjørk about the risks and benefits of folic acid supplementation and what this means for pregnant women with epilepsy.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

High-frequency oscillations (80 to 500 Hz) are being studied as biomarkers of epileptogenic areas in the brain, as well as markers to be used in epilepsy surgery. Dr. Cecilie Nome leads a discussion about clinical research on HFOs and areas of uncertainty, as well as the importance of basic research in helping to understand this phenomenon.

Publications mentioned during the episode: 

Roehri Eng N, et al. High-frequency oscillations are not better biomarkers of epileptogenic tissues than spikes. 2017. Annals of Neurology

Jacobs J, et al. Removing high-frequency oscillations: A prospective multicenter study on seizure outcome. 2018. Neurology

Zweiphenning W, et al. Intraoperative electrocorticography using high-frequency oscillations or spikes to tailor epilepsy surgery in the Netherlands (the HFO trial): a randomised, single-blind, adaptive non-inferiority trial. 2022. Lancet Neurology

Lisgaras CP et al. High-frequency oscillations (250–500 Hz) in animal models of Alzheimer's disease and two animal models of epilepsy. 2022. Epilepsia

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

There are potentially hundreds of "epilepsy genes" - but what is an epilepsy gene? How do researchers discover these genes and associate them with epilepsy? Sharp Waves spoke with Dr. Allan Bayat, a pediatric neurologist in Denmark focused on rare monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In the second episode of our genetics and epilepsy series, Sharp Waves explores how genetic insights can inform considerations and outcomes of epilepsy surgery. Dr. Alina Ivaniuk interviews Dr. Patrick Moloney, currently an epilepsy genomics fellow at the Chalfont Center for Epilepsy at University College London.

Selected publications:
Do germline genetic variants influence surgical outcomes in drug-resistant epilepsy? Epilepsy Res 2024

Genomics in the presurgical epilepsy evaluation. Epilepsy Res 2022

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This first episode in a multipart series on genetics in epilepsy covers the basics of genetic testing. Dr. Alina Ivaniuk interviews Dr. Ilona Krey, a physician and researcher at the Institute of Human Genetics at Leipzig University Medical Center.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Christina Rezek and Brad Levy each have daughters who underwent epilepsy surgery, with dramatically different results. Sharp Waves talked with them about the journeys to and through epilepsy surgery, the consequences, and what they have learned.

Brad Levy is a founder of Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland, a free event held every November in Anaheim, California, USA. Visit epilepsyawarenessday.org for more information.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Sharp Waves spoke with a neurologist and a cardiologist who are part of a team researching the interactions among seizures, heart function, heart health, and SUDEP. Learn more about their research.

Selected publications from Drs. Lin & Fialho and colleagues:


Determining factors of electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with epilepsy: A case-control study (2017, Epilepsy Research)

Maximal/exhaustive treadmill test features in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: Search for sudden unexpected death biomarkers (2017, Epilepsy Research)

Echocardiographic risk markers of sudden death in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (2018, Epilepsy Research)

Increased cardiac stiffness is associated with autonomic dysfunction in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (2018, Epilepsia)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we explore the science behind exercise as an adjunct treatment for epilepsy and debunk some common myths (spoiler alert: With very rare exceptions, exercise does NOT increase seizure risk). Dr. Ayushe Sharma talked with Dr. Jane Allendorfer, Dr. Halley Alexander, and Brian Wiedmeyer, who participated in an exercise research study.

The episode refers to a 2016 report by the ILAE Task Force on Sports and Epilepsy - that report is freely available online at this link.

Some of the other research papers mentioned in the episode are listed below.

The relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in people with epilepsy: A systematic review

Effects of physical exercise in people with epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Role of Physical Exercise as Complementary Treatment for Epilepsy and other Brain Disorders

Epilepsy and exercise: An experimental study in female rats

Effects of an exercise program on health of people with epilepsy: A randomized clinical trial

A strength exercise program in rats with epilepsy is protective against seizures

Effectiveness of Yoga Intervention in Reducing Felt Stigma in Adults With Epilepsy

Impact of exercise as a complementary management strategy in people with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A recent practice guideline provides updated evidence-based conclusions and recommendations regarding in utero effects of anti-seizure medications and folic acid supplementation on the prevalence of major congenital malformations, adverse perinatal outcomes, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Dr. Parthvi Ravat interviewed Dr. Alison Pack about the guideline, which was produced by the American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Review the practice guideline: Teratogenesis, perinatal, and neurodevelopmental outcomes after in utero exposure to antiseizure medication (Neurology, May 2024)

Other studies mentioned in the episode:
Risk of major congenital malformations and exposure to antiseizure medication monotherapy (JAMA Neurology, March 2024)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Some historic names for epilepsy have been derogatory and stigmatizing. An older term for “epilepsy” in Malay means “mad pig disease.” Neurologists in Malaysia collaborated to change the word to a medically accurate term. Sharp Waves spoke with Dr. Chong Tin Tan about the origins of the older term and how the new term was introduced.

Resources:
Name of epilepsy: Does it matter? - 2012 - Neurology Asia

Announcement of a new Chinese name for epilepsy - Lau - 2011 - Epilepsia 

Changing name of epilepsy in Korea; cerebroelectric disorder (noi‐jeon‐jeung,뇌전증,腦電症) - Kim - 2014 - Epilepsia

Renaming Korean epilepsy: Where are we? - Epilepsy & Behavior 

Awareness, knowledge and attitude towards epilepsy in Malaysia: A perspective of undergraduates in a private university | African Journal of Neurological Sciences 

Overcoming the stigma of epilepsy in Asia // International League Against Epilepsy 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

With all the best intentions, undertakings in global neurology can include assumptions and biases that lead to unforeseen negative consequences. Sharp Waves spoke with Drs. Melody Asukile and Deanna Saylor about their recent article on the perils and pitfalls of global neurology. They discussed specific examples of some of these unforeseen consequences and talked about the ingredients for productive, ethical, and sustainable global neurology initiatives.

Resources:
Asukile M et al. The Perils and Pitfalls of Global Engagement (JAMA Neurology)

Global Neurology: Advancing Neurological Care Worldwide (YouTube)

DiBiase R et al. Evaluation of Three Cohorts of the First Neurology Postgraduate Training Program in Zambia (P4-8.001) (Neurology)

Zambia League Against Epilepsy

Epilepsy care in Zambia: “Now that we have neurologists, we will have a voice” (ILAE Sharp Waves episode)

Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (World Health Organization)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Some people with epilepsy also experience memory and learning issues, as well as depression or anxiety. A small study in Australia screened people for these conditions at a first seizure clinic before any anti-seizure medications had been prescribed. Compared with a control group, the people at the first seizure clinic had higher rates of all of these cognitive and neuropsychological issues.

The study is published in Epilepsia Open.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Juhn Atsushi Wada was a Japanese–Canadian neurologist known for research on epilepsy and human brain asymmetry, including his description of the Wada test to assess cerebral hemispheric dominance of language function. The Wada test is the gold standard for establishing cerebral dominance and is conducted worldwide prior to epilepsy surgery. He became a pioneer in the utilization of the kindling model of epilepsy, which permitted controlled studies of the development of epilepsy in the laboratory.

Drs. Maryam Nouri and Laurent Sheybani interviewed Drs. Jerome Engel Jr., Marilyn Jones-Gotman, and Solomon Moshe about their memories and relationships with Dr. Wada and his impact on epilepsy research and clinical care.

More information on Dr. Wada:
In memoriam: Juhn Atsushi Wada (Epilepsia Open)

Juhn Wada 1924-2023 (ILAE website)

Dr. Juhn Atsushi Wada (British Columbia Medical Journal)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Previously thought to be mere connective tissue and support for neurons, astrocytes are now understood to have many functions in the nervous system that are linked with seizures and epilepsy. Dr. Cecilie Nome spoke with Dr. Peter Bedner about astrocytes' involvement in epilepsy and how identifying and resolving astrocyte dysfunction is a new frontier in drug development.

Relevant articles:
de Ceglia R., et al. 2023. Specialized astrocytes mediate glutamatergic gliotransmission in the CNS. Nature 622, 120–129.

Grote A., et al. 2023. ‘Hippocampal innate inflammatory gliosis only’ in pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain 146(2), 549-560.

Ravi V.M., et al. 2015. Astrocyte uncoupling as a cause of human temporal lobe epilepsy. 2015. Brain 138(5), 1208-1222.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Ashok Pillai is a professor of neurosurgery and neuroscience associated with Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India. He underwent epilepsy surgery after a diagnosis of epilepsy in his mid-30s. 

Dr. Pillai received his undergraduate degree and medical training in the United States before returning to Kochi in 1999. He experienced ecstatic seizures for nearly a decade before he was diagnosed. His personal experience with epilepsy and epilepsy surgery led him to train as an epilepsy surgeon, whereas previously he had focused on surgical neuro-oncology. The Amrita Advanced Centre for Epilepsy, which he heads, has performed more than 1,000 surgical procedures.

Dr. Parthvi Ravat spoke with Dr. Pillai about his experience with epilepsy, how it shaped his career path, and how it informs his clinical decision making.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Recent community-based studies suggest that people with chronic epilepsy have three times the risk of sudden cardiac death, compared with the general population. The studies also found that two-thirds of the cases of cardiac arrest in people with epilepsy did not occur directly before, during, or after a seizure. 

How do seizures affect the heart, both acutely and chronically? Dr. Trudy Pang and Dr. Richard Verrier have introduced the concept of the "epileptic heart" as "a heart and coronary vasculature damaged by chronic epilepsy as a result of repeated surges in catecholamines and hypoxemia, leading to electrical and mechanical dysfunction." Dr. Parthvi Ravat talks with both of them about their work and its relevance to epilepsy treatment.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

When a child with epilepsy ages out of pediatric healthcare, the shift to adult epilepsy care can be complex. Planning this transition and coordinating care can prevent gaps that can affect quality of life and possibly lead to health crises. 

A recent survey of people with epilepsy treated inside and outside of academic medical centers found that transition care was lacking. One-fourth of young adults with epilepsy were still followed by their pediatric neurologists and only 4% said they received clear instructions during the transfer of care process. Sharp Waves spoke with the paper’s senior author about the results and their implications. 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In northern Nigeria, as in many other low- and middle-income countries, more people need epilepsy treatment than traditional medical care can support. Dr. Edwin Trevathan discusses projects in that region aimed at identifying children with undiagnosed epilepsy and improving access to care, as well as research to better understand the risks and prognosis of pediatric status epilepticus.

Dr. Trevathan heads the BRIDGE project (Bridging the Childhood Epilepsy Treatment Gap in Africa) and the SEED project (Childhood Status Epilepticus and Epilepsy Determinants of Outcome). Both are funded through the US National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

A recent publication outlined areas of consensus on the recommended management, treatment options, and prognosis for epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia, also known as Jeavons syndrome. Dr. Alina Ivaniuk interviewed Dr. Kelsey Smith about the results and how consensus was reached.

They discuss which medications are recommended as first-line treatment, possible non-pharmacologic treatment options, and what is known about the safety of driving in this population. 

The publication appears in Epilepsia:

Smith KM, et al. Management of epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia: Results of an international expert consensus panel. Epilepsia. 2023; 64: 2342–2350. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.17682

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Besides seizures, people with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies experience a wide variety of symptoms, including sleep problems, vision problems, and behavioral issues. Dr. Scott Demarest discusses how neurologists may be able to address some of these, improving outcomes and quality of life.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Seizure action plans can help people with epilepsy manage their seizures and address emergencies. They often are aimed at a subset of people with epilepsy, particularly children. Dr. Lucretia Long discusses how seizure action plans can be used to engage and educate all people with epilepsy, as well as their families and the larger community.

Seizure action plan examples: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

Online fillable seizure action plan - English (PDF)

Plan de acción de incautación en línea  - espanol (PDF)

List of published research on seizure action plans

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What is the Human Brain Project and how might it advance epilepsy research? Dr. Maryam Nouri speaks with Dr. Philippe Ryvlin about the project in terms of the Human Intracerebral EEG Platform and how compiling these unique data from around the world could lead to new breakthroughs and understanding of epilepsy.

The Human Intracerebral EEG Platform is an open-source platform designed for collecting, managing, analyzing, and sharing iEEG data at an international level. Its primary mission is to promote the development of large-scale iEEG research projects by facilitating international collaborations in the field.

Links:
Human Brain Project
Human Intracerebral EEG Platform
The Virtual Brain

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Counseling of teens and young adults with epilepsy about reproductive issues is not happening often enough. Conversations about pregnancy are almost non existent. Sharp Waves spoke with authors of a recent paper that details these findings and discusses possible solutions.

Read the study: A retrospective textual analysis of sexual and reproductive health counseling for adolescent and young adult people with epilepsy of gestational capacity - Epilepsy & Behavior (epilepsybehavior.com)

Related articles by the same authors:

Sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult women with epilepsy: A qualitative study of pediatric neurologists and epileptologists - Epilepsy & Behavior (epilepsybehavior.com) (2020)

A survey of child neurologists about reproductive healthcare for adolescent women with epilepsy - Epilepsy & Behavior (epilepsybehavior.com) (2021)

Sexual and reproductive health concerns of women with epilepsy beginning in adolescence and young adulthood - Epilepsy & Behavior (epilepsybehavior.com) (2021)

A Survey of Healthcare Providers About Reproductive Healthcare for Adolescent Women With Epilepsy - Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (jpagonline.org) (2022)

Pediatric Neurologists’ Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Adolescent and Young Adult Women With Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability (2022)

Preferences and experiences of women with epilepsy regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare provision - Epilepsy & Behavior (epilepsybehavior.com) (2022)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

People with epilepsy don't always know when they have had a seizure - and yet establishing seizure frequency is a key part of epilepsy management. When Dr. Mark Cook's father was diagnosed with epilepsy, Dr. Cook realized that a system to identify and predict seizures could improve care and change people's lives. Dr. Parthvi Ravat talks with him about entrepreneurship in epilepsy and ways to advance the field through innovation.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Is surgery for pediatric epilepsy "worth it"? What factors determine quality of life in families with a child who has epilepsy? Dr. Kette Valente talks with Dr. Mary Lou Smith, whose work has implications for clinical treatment decisions, as well as expectations for the impact of treatments in children with epilepsy.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

EEG training varies within countries as well as between them; in many countries, there is no training available. Dr. Bruna Nucera talks with Dr. Sandor Beniczky about the present and future of clinical neurophysiology training, including a recent review that calls for harmonizing this type of training across the globe.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Seizures are common in neonates, but there is substantial management variability. The Neonatal Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) developed evidence-based recommendations about anti-seizure medication management in neonates in accordance with ILAE standards.

Dr. Emma Carter speaks with first author Dr. Ronit Pressler about the guidelines and recommendations, and how they were established. 

Treatment of seizures in the neonate: Guidelines and consensus-based recommendations—Special report from the ILAE Task Force on Neonatal Seizures

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In the 1990s, there was more funding for leprosy research in the United Kingdom than for epilepsy research. It was around that time that Dr. Edward (Ted) Reynolds, then president of ILAE, recognized that as a global problem, epilepsy required global solutions.

His idea blossomed into the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy and established a partnership among ILAE, the World Health Organization, and the International Bureau for Epilepsy that continues to this day through the Intersectoral Global Action Plan for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP).

Dr. Reynolds is interviewed by Dr. Edward Bertram, ILAE Secretary General.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

For her podcast, Epilepsy Sparks Insights, Torie Robinson interviews epilepsy clinicians and scientists from around the world. Diagnosed with epilepsy at age 10, Torie is working to share knowledge with people with epilepsy, their families, and the public. Her episode topics range widely, from the biochemistry of epilepsy, to the importance of epilepsy nurses, to epilepsy as an autoimmune condition, to sexual issues.

Listen to Epilepsy Sparks Insights wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube.

Finding Torie:
Podcast
Website
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram: @TorieRobinson10
X (formerly Twitter): @TorieRobinson10

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Luis Oliviera is parent to a son with an ultra-rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.  He's also a researcher with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.  He created an organization bringing parents and researchers together to better understand his son's disorder, which is part of a  group of disorders caused by rare mutations in v-ATPase genes. Dr. Oliviera was interviewed by Dr. Alina Ivaniuk.

Visit the v-ATPase Alliance website

Contact the v-ATPase Alliance

What is v-ATPase?

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The Idea of Epilepsy, published in 2023, covers the history of epilepsy from multiple perspectives over the past 160 years. It ends with a tantalizing question: Does epilepsy actually exist? Dr. Phillip Pearl interviews author Dr. Simon Shorvon about why and how he wrote the book and what it has to offer clinicians, researchers, and non-scientists alike.

More about The Idea of Epilepsy (from the publisher)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Are people who have their first seizure during sleep at greater or lesser risk for future seizures, compared with people who have their first seizure when they're awake? Dr. Laurent Sheybani interviews Dr. Elaine Pang, author of a 2023 paper in Epilepsia that analyzed data from 1,312 adults visiting a first-seizure clinic.

This episode also discusses a 2015 evidence-based guideline on managing a first unprovoked seizure in adults. The guideline was developed by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam was an organic chemist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the father of cannabis research. His team was the first to elucidate the structure of cannabidiol, or CBD. 

Dr. Mechoulam passed away in March 2023. This episode is a remastering of a conversation between Dr. Mechoulam and Dr. Meir Bialer, held in 2018 at the 13th European Congress on Epileptology. They spoke about CBD, THC, the endocannabinoid system, and the effects of cannabinoids in epilepsy and other conditions.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Nearly one-third of people with autism also have epilepsy. Researchers aren't sure why. 

For people on the spectrum, epilepsy can prompt unique challenges. Seizure symptoms can be misinterpreted as common autistic behaviors. Treatment may also be difficult due to the stress of a clinical setting, or the impact of anti-seizure medications on autism symptoms. Currently, some experts argue that there is a lack of research in assessing these care pathways. 
 
To learn more about diagnosis and treatment for people with autism and epilepsy, Joy Mazur spoke to Dr. Colin Reilly and Dr. Stéphane Auvin.

Related studies/links:

Epilepsy in patients with autism: links, risks and treatment challenges Besag FMC, et al., 2017

Neurobehavioral Comorbidities in Children with Active Epilepsy: A Population-Based Study Reilly C, et al., 2014

Traditional and non-traditional treatments for autism spectrum disorder with seizures: an on-line survey Frye RE, et al., 2011

Epilepsy and autism - National Autistic Society

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dravet syndrome is a rare, severe epilepsy caused by changes in a gene called SCN1A. The changes cause the gene to stop functioning normally. But not everyone with this type of genetic change develops Dravet syndrome, and people with Dravet also have a wide range of clinical characteristics, which can't be fully explained by these changes. What else is going on? We spoke with Dr. Sanjay Sisodiya about a recent publication on genomic influences in Dravet syndrome.

This episode is based on a recent publication in the journal Brain:
Widespread genomic influences on phenotype in Dravet syndrome, a ‘monogenic’ condition

Dravet syndrome is a rare severe epilepsy typically caused by loss-of-function SCN1A variants. Despite a recognizable core phenotype, Dravet syndrome also has phenotypic heterogeneity, which cannot be explained by clinical factors or SCN1A variants. 

This relatively small study (34 adults) found that additional genomic variation contributes to the diversity of phenotypes found in Dravet syndromes. The authors suggest that the SCN1A variant may need to act against a "broadly compromised genomic background" to generate the full Dravet syndrome phenotype, and that genomic resilience may contribute to a reduction in mortality risk among adults with Dravet syndrome. 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Sara Staggs was a civil rights attorney and pregnant with her second child when her doctors told her to stop practicing law: her seizures had become too frequent. Staggs' 2023 novel, Uncontrollable, fictionalizes her experiences with epilepsy and provides insight into how epilepsy affects families, careers, and relationships. 

Staggs talked with Dr. Alina Ivaniuk about her epilepsy history, her surgical evaluation experiences, and how she pivoted from attorney to author.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

We'll frame today's talk around a paper recently published in the European Journal of Neurology:  "The incidence and risk factors associated with seizures in cerebral amyloid angiopathy." With us today is the first author of the article, Dr. Brin Freund. 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Diet treatments are often used with the aim of reducing seizure frequency and severity — but they may have other benefits as well.

Findings from a recent study conducted in Norway suggest that dietary treatments may normalize emotional symptoms and that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) might be an indicator of successful diet treatment in the future. Joy Mazur spoke with Dr. Magnhild Kverneland about the study's results and its implications.   

Health-related quality of life in adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy treated with modified Atkins diet in a randomized clinical trial was published in Epilepsia in March 2023.

Related studies:

Anxiety and depressive disorders in people with epilepsy: A meta-analysis Scott A, et al., 2017

Modified ketogenic diets in adults with refractory epilepsy: Efficacious improvements in seizure frequency, seizure severity, and quality of life Roehl K, et al., 2019

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Some published data suggest that besides their effect on cholesterol, statins also may play a neuroprotective role in some neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Dr. Bruna Nucera interviews Dr. Anthony Marson and Dr. Emilio Russo about whether and how to test statins as potential anti-epileptogenic drugs.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Functional seizures, also known as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), resemble epileptic seizures. Unlike epilepsy, they are not prompted by any electrical activity in the brain. People with functional seizures live with stigma, stress, and emotional and financial burden — and so do their care partners.

Joy Mazur spoke with Shannon Guinard, who cares for her husband, about the challenges and stigmas that face care partners of people with functional seizures.

Resources and relevant articles: 

Information about psychogenic non epileptic seizures

Depression and anxiety in caregivers of patients with functional seizures Tsamakis K, et al., 2023

Social aspects of life in patients with functional seizures: Closing the gap in the biopsychosocial formulation Asadi-Pooya AA, et al., 2021

Welfare consequences for people diagnosed with nonepileptic seizures: A matched nationwide study in Denmark Jennum, et al., 2019

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Do seizures have daily, weekly, monthly, or other rhythms? In Part 2 of our two-part series on circadian rhythms, Dr. Laurent Sheybani talks with Dr. Maxime Baud about the latest research on circadian and multidien rhythms in epilepsy.

Selected publications:

Seizure cycles in focal epilepsy - MG Leguia, et al. (2021) JAMA Neurology

Endogenous multidien rhythm of epilepsy in rats - MO Baud, et al. (2019) Experimental Neurology

Lamellar bone is an incremental tissue reconciling enamel rhythms, body size, and organismal life history - TG Bromage, et al. (2009) Calcified Tissue International

Multi-day rhythms modulate seizure risk in epilepsy - MO Baud, et al. (2018) Nature Communications

Seizure forecasting: Bifurcations in the long and winding road - MO Baud, et al. (2022) Epilepsia

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 The cyclic properties of seizures have been known for more than 100 years, but does everyone with epilepsy have a seizure pattern? What can be learned from seizure diaries, RNS data, and animal models, and how can this information guide further research and clinical care? Dr. Laurent Sheybani talks with Dr. Mark Quigg about circadian rhythms in epilepsy.

Selected publications:
Electrocorticographic events from long-term ambulatory brain recordings can potentially supplement seizure diaries - Quigg M, et al. (2020) Epilepsy Research

Circadian and ultradian patterns of epileptiform discharges differ by seizure-onset location during long-term ambulatory intracranial monitoring - Spencer DC, et al. (2016) Epilepsia

Interrater reliability in interpretation of electrocorticographic seizure detections of the responsive neurostimulator - Quigg M, et al. (2015) Epilepsia

Variation of seizure frequency with ovulatory status of menstrual cycles - Herzog AG, et al. (2011) Epilepsia

Is there a circadian variation of epileptiform abnormalities in idiopathic generalized epilepsy? Pavlova MK, et al. (2009) Epilepsy & Behavior

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) affects about one out of every 1.000 people with epilepsy.  Despite its rarity, SUDEP is important to discuss, but some physicians are wary of having the conversations. Dr. Emma Carter spoke with Dr. Suvasini Sharma about SUDEP, why it's important to inform patients and families about it, and how to manage risk factors.

The greatest risk factor for SUDEP is uncontrolled generalized tonic-clonic seizures (previously called grand mal seizures). Nocturnal seizures and certain comorbidities, such as developmental delay, also are risk factors.

SUDEP information for families from the ILAE (ilae.org)

Relevant articles:

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) - What pediatricians need to know Garg D, Sharma S, 2020

Effect of counselling of parents of children with epilepsy focusing on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy Kumari S, et al., 2022

Counseling about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): A global survey of neurologists' opinions Asadi-Pooya AA, et al., 2022

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Discussions of artificial intelligence and ChatGPT are everywhere. How will this technology affect epilepsy research and care? What are the dangers and pitfalls, and what do we need to know when designing research studies that use AI technology?

Dr. Alina Ivaniuk interviewed Dr. Christian Bosselmann, an epilepsy precision medicine research fellow at the Cleveland Clinic, about the history of chatbots, the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, and tips for critically evaluating studies that utilize AI.

Mentioned in the discussion:
Are AI language models such as ChatGPT ready to improve the care of individuals with epilepsy?

Comparing physician and artificial intelligence chatbot responses to patient questions posted to a public social media forum

This episode was reported by Alina Ivaniuk, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Feedback and ideas welcome: podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Neurocysticercosis - an infection of the brain by a pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) – is one of the most common causes of seizures worldwide. People with neurocysticercosis have incidentally ingested tapeworm eggs, which are found in the feces of people who have tapeworms in their digestive systems (a condition called taeniasis). The eggs can migrate to any organ and form larval cysts; the brain is one of the most common sites.

Pigs are intermediate hosts, so neurocysticercosis occurs in regions where humans live in close contact with pigs and eat undercooked pork. Poor sanitation that leads to environmental fecal contamination is a major factor in transmission. 

Selected publications from the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru:
Quality of life in patients with symptomatic epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis (2022)

New animal models of neurocysticercosis can help understand epileptogenesis in neuroinfection (2022)

Geographically targeted interventions versus mass drug administration to control Taenia solium cysticercosis in Peru (2021)

Current diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis (2021)

Neurocysticercosis: A frequent cause of seizures, epilepsy, and other neurological morbidity in most of the world (2021)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Most people with epilepsy have difficulty always taking their medications as prescribed. How can clinicians and patients talk about the issue and find solutions? Sharp Waves spoke with Dr. Avani Modi and Dr. Desiree Williford, authors of a recent study on pediatric adherence in epilepsy.

During the episode, Dr. Modi mentions online resources that can help individuals and families find ways to take medication as directed. These are available in English and Spanish on the Epilepsy Foundation website.

The STAR trial (Supporting Treatment Adherence Regimens) was a randomized controlled trial. Results can be found at this link.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

ILAE spoke with Action Amos, from the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) about plans and strategies for improving epilepsy care across Africa. Leveraged by the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders, four "trendsetter" countries are taking a variety of approaches to engage governments, increase public awareness, and ensure the participation of people with epilepsy in all of their initiatives.

IBE aims to improve the lives of people with epilepsy and those who care for them.

Resources:

Making Epilepsy A Health Priority in Africa

Reducing epilepsy stigma in Africa

Discriminatory health laws and epilepsy: A report on 21 African countries

IGAP Unpacked

The BAND Foundation

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Anca Arbune interviews two authors of a recent critical review on managing epilepsy in the elderly, developed by the ILAE Commission on Epilepsy in Older Adults. They discuss choosing an anti-seizure medication, monitoring cognitive changes, assessing quality of life, status epilepticus, the potential of epilepsy surgery, and the need for more research.

Listeners interested in the newly formed consortium mentioned by Dr. O'Dwyer can contact her through the ILAE website. 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Bruna Nucera interviewed Dr. Andrea Cheng-Hakimian about a retrospective study that included 28 years of data from women with epilepsy who gave birth in Washington State.

This US study compared the relative occurrence of selected pregnancy outcomes and postpartum rehospitalizations among women with and without epilepsy and their infants. It used linked hospital records of women with deliveries in Washington State between 1987 and 2014. 

Women with epilepsy had increased risks of preeclampsia (RR 1.23; 95 % CI 1.08-1.41) and gestational diabetes (RR 1.18; 95 % CI 1.02-1.36). Their infants had increased risks of malformation (RR 1.23; 95 % C: 1.08-1.42) and small for gestational age (RR 1.39; 95 % CI 1.25-1.54) , and were nearly three times as likely to not be breastfed. 

Mothers (RR 5.25; 95 % CI 2.46-11.23) and their infants (RR 1.64, 95 % CI 1.41-1.89) required more ICU admissions during hospitalization for delivery and more postpartum rehospitalization, with greatest risk in the first six months. 

Maternal mortality (up to 2 years after delivery) was increased (RR 7.11; 95 % CI 2.47-20.49). Risks of preterm delivery and low birthweight increased over the study time period (p <.05). 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Can we improve epilepsy outcomes by bringing care closer to home? A cluster randomized trial compared home care with community health workers to standard clinic care.

ILAE spoke with Dr. Gagandeep Singh and Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, authors of the study publication, which was published in Epilepsia Open.

Twenty-four clusters, each comprising 10 people with epilepsy, were randomized to either home-based or clinic care. Home-care recipients had better medication adherence and fewer seizures, compared with clinic-care recipients. Significantly more people from clinic care (37%) than home care (19%) exited the trial (P = 0.003).

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

How has the crisis in Ukraine affected people with epilepsy and their families, as well as the physicians who care for them? Dr. Alina Ivaniuk speaks with Dr. Olha Tychkivska about the volunteer efforts to provide anti-seizure medication to people in Ukraine, as well as Ukrainians who fled to other countries.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Jessie Nyirenda's seizures began in her early teens. She was dismissed as attention-seeking and told she might be cursed. Years later, Jessie discovered information about her condition through library research and was formally diagnosed. She now works as a financial educator and is a mother of three children.

Jessie was part of an advisory board to the International Bureau for Epilepsy, which helped develop an advocate's toolkit on counteracting epilepsy stigma in Africa. The toolkit is the first of several that will be developed in different regions of the world.

Dr. Bruna Nucera interviewed Jessie about her experience with epilepsy, her advice to others with epilepsy, and how she has dealt with discrimination.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Stigmatizing people with epilepsy is a form of discrimination, and it can affect all aspects of someone's life: school, family life, work, friendships, relationships, and marriage.

The International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), ILAE's partner organization, consulted people with epilepsy and their families to produce a toolkit for addressing epilepsy stigma in Africa. The materials provide concrete, practical ways that advocates can work to reduce stigma in African countries.

IBE plans to produce similar toolkits customized to other regions of the world.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Bidirectional links between epilepsy and sleep have been known for thousands of years. Despite nearly a century of research using EEG investigations, the relationships are still not well understood.

Dr. Laurent Sheybani interviewed Dr. Birgit Frauscher, an epileptologist and sleep specialist at the Montreal Neurological Institute. They discussed what is known about sleep patterns, how sleep may influence epileptic activity and vice versa, and how sleep research may lead to more effective epilepsy treatments.

Studies mentioned in the interview include:
Interictal Hippocampal Spiking Influences the Occurrence of Hippocampal Sleep Spindles (Frauscher et al., 2015, Sleep)

Focal epilepsy disrupts spindle structure and function (Schiller et al., 2022, Nature Scientific Reports)

Origin and significance of the cyclic alternating pattern: Review article (Terzano & Parrino, 2000, Sleep Medicine Reviews)

SleepSEEG: automatic sleep scoring using intracranial EEG recordings only (von Ellenrieder et al., 2022, J. Neural Eng.)

Recurrent Hippocampo-neocortical sleep-state divergence in humans (Guthrie et al., 2022, PNAS)

Scalp spindles are associated with widespread intracranial activity with unexpectedly low synchrony (Frauscher et al., 2015, Neuroimage)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Andres Kanner is one of the best known researchers in the behavioral aspects of epilepsy, and has authored more than 300 papers and book chapters. 

Dr. Kanner sat down with ILAE to talk about his original goal of becoming an artist, his path to epileptology, and how he has worked to become what patients call "an amazing, compassionate doctor".

He is director of the University of Miami School of Medicine's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center of Excellence, chief of the Epilepsy Division, and professor of clinical neurology. 

Dr. Kanner is quadruple-boarded in neurology, psychiatry, clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy. He has long-standing research interests in the areas of pharmacology of epilepsy, psychiatric aspects of epilepsy and surgical treatment of treatment-resistant focal epilepsy. 

He has served on the editorial boards of several journals and held leadership positions in many organizations, including the International League Against Epilepsy, American Epilepsy Society, and American Academy of Neurology.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Improving lesion detection in people with drug-resistant epilepsy is crucial for optimal surgical outcomes. The MELD Project is an open-science consortium using deep learning principles to develop automated lesion detection of clinical MRI data. Dr. Maryam Nabavi Nouri spoke with Dr. Konrad Wagstyl about the project, publications, progress, and goals.

Currently, the MELD project has three ongoing themes:

• Automated detection of lesions in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy
• Understanding the topographical distribution of focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs)
• Morphological characterisation of FCD lesions

Twitter: @meld_project

Website: MELD Project

Publications:

Atlas of lesion locations and postsurgical seizure freedom in focal cortical dysplasia: A MELD study (2021, Epilepsia)

Interpretable surface-based detection of focal cortical dysplasias: a Multi-centre Epilepsy Lesion Detection study (2022, Brain)

Networks Underlie Temporal Onset of Dysplasia-Related Epilepsy: A MELD Study (2022, Annals of Neurology)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Alina Ivaniuk talks with Dr. Caroline Neuray about her career path from medical school to industry CEO. (It's not as direct as it sounds!) They discuss the power of peer mentoring, ways to improve medical education, finding the courage to accept change, and what's up with those comments from reviewer #2, anyway.

Dr. Neuray is Chief Executive Officer of Epilog, which offers advanced EEG analysis to support clinical care, clinical trials, and research. She received her MD from the University of Munich and completed neurology training at Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, with a clinical fellowship in epilepsy at University College London. Dr. Neuray also completed an MBA short course at the London School of Economics. She is a founding member of ILAE's Young Epilepsy Section (YES) and a former YES regional representative (Europe). She serves on several ILAE committees.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

First-line immunotherapy and the ketogenic diet are two main recommendations for treatment of NORSE/FIRES of unknown cause, according to results from an international consensus group published in Epilepsia.

Dr. Maryam Nabavi Nouri interviews first author Dr. Ronny Wickstrom.

For cases with unknown etiology,  first-line immunotherapy should be considered within 72 hours of seizure onset, and second-line immunotherapy and the ketogenic diet should be considered within 7 days of seizure onset.

The recommendations and clinical tools are available now:

International consensus recommendations for management of new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) including febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES): Summary and clinical tools

International consensus recommendations for management of new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) including febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES): Statements and supporting evidence

This episode was reported by Dr. Maryam Nabavi Nouri and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice.

Families affected by NORSE can join the NORSE Family Registry and contribute information that may help shape and initiate research.  NORSE Family Registry registration information is available in multiple languages:
English | Francais| Mandarin | Espanol

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Nurses have been called the "glue" of epilepsy care, but their value and impact aren't always appreciated. The ILAE Nursing Section welcomes nurses from every country to help advocate for a better understanding of what nurses do, how their care improves outcomes in people with epilepsy, and how nurses can contribute to the goals of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan for Epilepsy and other Neurological Diseases (IGAP).

Support from epilepsy clinicians and researchers is vital. Epigraph spoke with Nursing Section leaders Karen Legg, Patty Osborne Shafer, and Jane von Gaudecker about the roles and responsibilities of epilepsy nurses, and how clinicians can support them.

Join the ILAE Nursing Section
Learn more about the ILAE Nursing Section

Research links:

Nurse-led care for epilepsy at the primary level in a rural health district in Cameroon (2008 - Kengne AP et al., Epilepsia)

Patients with epilepsy care experiences: Comparison between services with and without an epilepsy specialist nurse (2018 - Higgins A et al., Epilepsy & Behavior)

Epilepsy Specialist Nurses: The Evidence (the ESPENTE study) (2019 - Campbell F et al.)

Benefits of the epilepsy specialty nurse role, standardized practices and education around the world (2019 - Prevos-Morgant M et al, Revue Neurologique)

 A 2022 report by Epilepsy Consortium Scotland that highlights the importance of epilepsy nurse services during the pandemic


This episode was reported, edited, and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Does in utero exposure to anti-seizure medication affect motor and mental development? A study using data from the Kerala Registry of Epilepsy in Pregnancy included more than 1,300 infants. Those exposed to valproate monotherapy, as well as any polytherapy, had higher risks of developmental delay.

Dr. Bruna Nucera talked with Dr. Sanjeev Thomas about the findings and implications of the study.

The study, Differential impact of antenatal exposure to antiseizure medications on motor and mental development in infants of women with epilepsy, was published in Epileptic Disorders in June 2022.

Other publications from the Kerala Register of Epilepsy in Pregnancy

Other epilepsy pregnancy registries:

Australian Register
EURAP
North American Pregnancy Registry
UK Register

This episode was reported by Dr. Bruna Nucera, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. 

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What are the associations between Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy?  Dr. Patricia Saletti interviews Dr. Andrew Cole and Dr. Alice Lam.

Recent studies have revealed intriguing connections between epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, including a bidirectional increased risk and subclinical seizures in people with Alzheimer's. What do these relationships mean for people with these conditions, and what's the latest research?

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Research mentioned in this episode

Noninvasive Detection of Hippocampal Epileptiform Activity on Scalp Electroencephalogram – Abou Jaoude M, et al. (JAMA Neurology 2022)

Towards a coherent view of network hyperexcitability in Alzheimer’s disease – Lam et al. (Brain 2022)

Neuronal synchrony abnormalities associated with subclinical epileptiform activity in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – Ranasinghe KG, et al. (Brain 2022)

Effect of Levetiracetam on Cognition in Patients with Alzheimer Disease With and Without Epileptiform Activity: A Randomized Clinical Trial  Vossel K et al. (JAMA Neurology 2021)

Association of epileptiform abnormalities and seizures in Alzheimer disease – Lam et al. (Neurology 2020)

New Approaches to Studying Silent Mesial Temporal Lobe Seizures in Alzheimer's Disease – Lam et al. (review, Front Neurol 2019)

Biomarker definitions and their applications – Califf RM (Exp Bio Med, 2018)

Silent hippocampal seizures and spikes identified by foramen ovale electrodes in Alzheimer's disease – Lam AD et al. (Nature Medicine 2017)

Neuronal activity regulates extracellular tau in vivo - Yamada K et al. (J Exp Med 2014)

Neuronal activity regulates the regional vulnerability to amyloid-β deposition – Bero AW et al. (Nat Neurosci 2011)

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Alina Ivaniuk interviews Dr. Meriem Bensalem-Owen about growing up in Algeria, attending medical school during a civil war, moving to the United States for training, and starting Kentucky's first epilepsy fellowship program. Dr. Bensalem-Owen directs the epilepsy program at the University of Kentucky and is a past board member of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. She is passionate about Brazilian jiu jitsu and Argentine tango, and doesn't get enough sleep.

Read more about Dr. Bensalem-Owen and find her on Twitter.


This episode was reported by Dr. Alina Ivaniuk, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Contact us with comments or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What is autoimmune-associated epilepsy, and how is it different from acute seizures with an autoimmune cause? How can clinicians best diagnose and treat these conditions? Sharp Waves reporter Dr. Maryam Nabavi-Nouri spoke with Dr. Claude Steriade.

Claude Steriade, MD, CM is originally from Quebec City, Canada. She completed medical school at McGill University in Montreal, followed by an adult neurology residency at the University of Toronto. Dr. Steriade then completed a two-year epilepsy fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic before joining the epilepsy center at New York University.

 
Relevant articles:

Acute symptomatic seizures secondary to autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune-associated epilepsy: Conceptual definitions

Discerning the Role of Autoimmunity and Autoantibodies in Epilepsy: A Review 

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This episode was reported by Dr. Maryam Nabavi-Nouri, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice.

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

ILAE website | Facebook | Instagram

Twitter feeds: English | French | Japanese | Portuguese | Spanish | ILAE-YES

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

We talk with the authors of a recent study that found a higher incidence of epilepsy in more socially deprived areas of County Cork, Ireland. How was the dataset compiled, and what are the implications of their findings?

Read the full study (open access) in Epilepsia: Association between social deprivation and incidence of first seizures and epilepsy: A prospective population-based cohort. Eimer M. Maloney, Paul Corcoran, Daniel J. Costello, and Eilis J. O'Reilly

The researchers interviewed for this episode, Eimer M. Maloney and Eilis J. O'Reilly, have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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This episode was reported, edited, and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ILAE website | Facebook | Instagram

Twitter feeds: English | French | Japanese | Portuguese | Spanish | ILAE-YES

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Alina Ivaniuk talks with Dr. Fábio Nascimento about his medical training and the factors contributing to his successful and varied career path.

Dr. Nascimento became the director of Washington University’s Adult Tuberous Sclerosis Center Clinic in summer 2022, after completing an epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is co-creator and co-host of EEG Talk, a YouTube channel dedicated to EEG education, and is also a podcast editor (Neurology Minute) and associate editor & social media editor for Epileptic Disorders.

Find Dr. Nascimento on Twitter (@fabnascimen) or visit the EEG Talk YouTube channel.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What does it take to define and classify 39 epilepsy syndromes?  Dr. Elaine Wirrell chaired the ILAE task force that undertook this charge in 2017.  Through in-person meetings, Zoom calls, emails, and gallons of coffee, the group of international experts shaped four classification papers, along with a fifth explaining the methodology and listing the syndromes. We also spoke with Dr. Kate Riney, who was part of the task force and instrumental in building epilepsydiagnosis.org, an online guide and a key resource for the team.

The papers were published in Epilepsia in May 2022.

Methodology for classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes, with a list of syndromes

Epilepsy syndromes with onset in neonates and infants

• Full-length manuscript
• Plain language summary
• Infographic

Epilepsy syndromes with onset in childhood

• Full-length manuscript
• Plain language summary
• Infographic

Epilepsy syndromes with onset at a variable age

• Full-length manuscript
• Plain language summary
• Infographic

Idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes

• Full-length manuscript
• Plain language summary
• Infographic

Two webinars also are available, featuring leaders discussing the position papers and their key messages.

This episode was reported, edited, and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

As many as two-thirds of women with epilepsy have seizures that fluctuate with their menstrual cycles. Called catamenial epilepsy, the phenomenon has three distinct patterns.

In this episode of Sharp Waves, Dr. Bruna Nucera talks with Dr. Herzog about the three patterns of catamenial epilepsy, the possible mechanisms behind these seizure exacerbations, and how sex hormones otherwise affect both women and men with epilepsy. They discuss polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), female and male fertility issues in people with epilepsy, and what clinicians should know about interactions between anti-seizure medications and sex hormones, as well as treatment for catamenial epilepsy.

Links to studies mentioned by Dr. Herzog can be found in the episode’s transcript.

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 This episode was reported by Dr. Bruna Nucera, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. 

ILAE website | Facebook | Instagram

Twitter feeds: English | French | Japanese | Portuguese | Spanish | ILAE-YES

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, we talk with a third-year medical student, a neuroscience researcher, an avid rock climber, and a young man with epilepsy. The catch: They’re all the same person.

Rick Nolan, 28, is a medical student from the US who also has done graduate coursework in neuroscience, publishing a study of his own brain in 2020. Nolan was diagnosed in his early 20s with epilepsy, which did not respond to medication. He took a year off from medical school to be surgically evaluated and receive a responsive neurostimulator (RNS) with the hope of becoming seizure free.

Nolan talked with ILAE about his experience with epilepsy as well as his medical training, sharing his potential career plans and a unique perspective on potential ways to improve epilepsy care.

This episode was reported, edited, and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Schools can be an important focus for screening of children for epilepsy, as well as educational efforts to address basic knowledge, stigma, and misconceptions associated with epilepsy. Schools also are an appropriate and necessary place to provide seizure first aid to affected students, teachers, and staff, as well as rescue medications when needed.

There is strong stigma around epilepsy in India;  parents may deny that a child has epilepsy, even if a community health worker has observed the child having seizures. And teachers and school administrators can be reluctant to allow children with epilepsy to attend school. This, combined with the social stigma of epilepsy and possible learning and cognitive issues, can lead to academic underachievement, lost opportunities, and poor quality of life into and throughout adulthood.

To better understand the epilepsy treatment gap in children, as well as to begin addressing the gap on a school-based level, Dr. Sulena Singh and colleagues developed a three-year project of surveys and training activities.

Dr. Sulena is in the Division of Neurology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab, India.

The project is supported by an ad hoc grant (No.5/4-5/189/Neuro / 2019-NCD-1) from the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

Read more about the project on the ILAE website.

This episode was reported, edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact ILAE with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Katja Kobow is the most recent winner of the Michael Prize, an international award in epilepsy research. Her work focuses on epigenetics and epilepsy, a field that has grown exponentially in only the past 10 to 15 years. Dr. Kobow talked about her research and its potential for epilepsy diagnosis and treatment.

Epigenetics is the bookmarking system or the data management system of our genome. It decides which part of the genome is read, and when to read it. The epigenome is what makes the genome versatile in terms of regulating gene expression.

Epigenetics is crucial for all aspects of brain development and function. It’s also reversible, which has exciting implications for anti-epileptogenic therapies.  

Dr. Kobow is assistant professor at the Institute of Neuropathology at the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany. 

Selected recent publications:
 

DNA methylation-based classification of malformations of cortical development in the human brain (Acta Neuropathologica, 2022)

Molecular diagnostics in drug-resistant focal epilepsy define new disease entities (Brain Pathology, 2021)

Epigenetics explained: a topic “primer” for the epilepsy community by the ILAE Genetics/Epigenetics Task Force (Epileptic Disorders, 2020)

The Michael Prize is awarded in odd-numbered years; entries for the 2023 prize are now open and accepted until December 31, 2022.

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This episode was reported, edited, and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact us with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ILAE website | Facebook | Instagram

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Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Can women with epilepsy get pregnant, give birth to healthy babies, and breastfeed? What are the myths and misconceptions around epilepsy during pregnancy, and what do physicians and women need to know? Dr. Anca Arbune interviews Dr. Page Pennell about the latest research and knowledge.

Women with epilepsy were once counseled to avoid pregnancy, but epilepsy is no longer a barrier to giving birth. The vast majority of women will have good outcomes.

Fertility issues are not a given in women with epilepsy, though they may arise in men or women taking enzyme-inducing anti-seizure medications.

A long history of taking anti-seizure medication does not affect a woman’s fertility or other outcomes. Only the type of medication taken during pregnancy can exert an influence. Significant reductions in the use of valproate in women of childbearing age mean that most women are taking anti-seizure medications that have lower risks to their babies.

A planned pregnancy with consistent seizure control can lead to safe and healthy outcomes. Certain anti-seizure medications require monitoring during pregnancy, due to changes in physiology and hormone levels.

Breastfeeding is safe and studies show beneficial effects to the infant, similar to those in infants in the general population. 

Research discussed during the episode:

MONEAD (Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Anti-epileptic Drugs) Study

Two-Year-Old Cognitive Outcomes in Children of Pregnant Women With Epilepsy in the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs Study (2021) JAMA Neurology (KJ Meador, MJ Cohen, DW Loring, et al.)

Fetal antiepileptic drug exposure and cognitive outcomes at age 6 years (NEAD study): a prospective observational study (2013) The Lancet Neurology (KJ Meador, GA Baker, N Browning, et al.)

Antiseizure Medication Concentrations During Pregnancy: Results From the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (MONEAD) Study (2022) JAMA Neurology (PB Pennell, A Karanam, KJ Meador, et al.)

Effects of breastfeeding in children of women taking antiepileptic drugs (2010) Neurology (KJ Meador, GA Baker, N Browning, et al.)

Antiepileptic Drug Exposure in Infants of Breastfeeding Mothers With Epilepsy (2019) JAMA Neurology (AK Birnbaum, KJ Meador, A Karanam, et al.)
 
This episode was reported by Dr. Anca Arbune, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Could annual dramatic shifts in day/night patterns in the Arctic have an effect on seizures? One researcher went looking for answers – and found more than he bargained for. His research revealed a public health crisis in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, highlighting the needs of geographically isolated communities and Indigenous peoples. (He also found intriguing results to his original question.)
 
 Dr. Marcus Ng reviewed 11 years of data on emergency evacuations from the Kivalliq region of northern Canada. There, anyone who has seizures that last more than 5 minutes - an emergency condition known as status epilepticus - is helicoptered to a single hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
 
Dr. Ng wondered if the frequency of evacuations changed as the seasons changed. Were people more likely to have seizures in the 24-hour darkness of winter, the 24-hour daylight of summer, or somewhere in between?
 
He found that the people of the Kivalliq region had the highest reported incidence of status epilepticus in the world, far higher than Canada's overall estimates. His research also revealed the barriers to timely care faced by this population.
 
 This episode was reported and produced by Nancy Volkers. Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
 
Studies mentioned or used as sources of information:
  Status epilepticus in the Canadian Arctic: A public health imperative hidden in plain sight. Epilepsia Open 2021

Circannual incidence of seizure evacuations from the Canadian Arctic. Epilepsy & Behavior 2022 

Incidence of the different stages of status epilepticus in Eastern Finland: A population-based study. Epilepsy & Behavior 2019 

Addressing provider turnover to improve health outcomes in Nunavut. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2019

Contact ILAE with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Anti-seizure medications are not a cure, and about 30% of people with epilepsy don't respond to them. How are new medications discovered, and what's on the horizon?  Dr. Patricia Grandizoli Saletti interviews Dr. Karen Wilcox about her work with the Anticonvulsive Drug Development Program.

Only about two-thirds of people with epilepsy have their seizures controlled by medication. The Anticonvulsive Drug Development (ADD) Program at the University of Utah is the contract site for the Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP), a program run by the US National Institutes of Health that is dedicated to preclinical testing of potential new medications to stop seizures - and perhaps one day, to stop epilepsy from developing.

Dr. Karen Wilcox directs the ADD Program, which over the years has evaluated the majority of the anti-seizure medications on the market today.

The program uses a battery of assays and experiments to blind-test compounds, which are provided by pharmaceutical companies, academic labs, or medicinal chemists. The data is returned to the source lab, which can use it to pursue clinical testing if warranted.

Identifying promising new anti-seizure medications relies on model systems that approximate epilepsy in human beings. Dr. Wilcox and colleagues' work on better pre-clinical models can help to identify more effective anti-seizure medications.  For example, finding compounds effective against drug-resistant epilepsy depends on models that simulate drug-resistant epilepsy. Dr. Wilcox's program uses such a model and is working on developing others. And in a 2020 Epilepsia paper, her group described results from a study of subchronic administration of anti-seizure compounds in a rodent model of spontaneous seizures.

This episode was reported by Dr. Patricia Grandizoli Saletti, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Contact ILAE with feedback or episode ideas at podcast@ilae.org

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Can electrical current stop seizures, or make seizures less severe? How does it work, and who can benefit?  Dr. Laurent Sheybani interviews Dr. Robert Fisher about deep-brain stimulation for epilepsy.


Disclosure: Dr. Fisher is a consultant for Medtronic but receives no compensation for using its deep-brain stimulation devices.

Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) is the newest of three types of neuromodulation for epilepsy, and targets a part of the thalamus called the anterior nucleus. 

In DBS treatment, targeted electrical pulses inhibit  a network in the brain  involved in starting and spreading seizures. This interference is linked with a reduction in the number and/or severity of seizures in some people who haven’t found relief with anti-seizure medications.

In a randomized, double-blind study of DBS, the SANTE trial , 43% of people had significant reductions in their seizure frequency after one year, and 74% had reductions after 7 years. The treatment also had high patient satisfaction (84% after 7 years).

The mechanisms of DBS are still largely unknown, though pre-clinical studies have found synaptogenesis, receptor changes, and changes in gene expression, suggesting the growth or regeneration of neurons. DBS is usually well tolerated, acceptably safe, and associated with improvement in quality of life.

Research discussed during the episode:

Electrical stimulation of the anterior nucleus of thalamus for treatment of refractory epilepsy (2010) Epilepsia (Fisher R, Salanova V, Witt T, for the SANTE study group)

Experience and consensus on stimulation of the anterior nucleus of thalamus for epilepsy (2021) Epilepsia (Fasano A, Eliashiv D, Herman ST, et al.)

Closed-loop stimulation of the medial septum terminates epileptic seizures (2021) Brain (Takeuchi Y, Harangozo M, Pedraza L, et al.)

Medial septal GABAergic neurons reduce seizure duration upon optogenetic closed-loop stimulation (2021) Brain (Hristova K, Martinez-Gonzalez C, Watson TC, et al.)

 Other resources:

ILAE/YES webinar on neurostimulation with Dr. Robert Fisher (January 2022)

This episode was reported by Dr. Laurent Sheybani, and edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook,

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Someone who has persistent seizures that last more than 24 hours, despite treatment, is in super refractory status epilepticus, or SRSE. The condition is rare, but often results in death or disability.

Bringing someone out of SRSE usually involves treatment with anti-seizure medications and anesthetics, but other therapies are beginning to gain attention. One of those therapies is the ketogenic diet. This high-fat diet has been used to treat some cases of epilepsy for more than 100 years.

A recent paper in Neurology Clinical Practice offers practical considerations for the use of the ketogenic diet in patients with super-refractory status epilepticus. ILAE spoke with two of the paper’s authors – dietitian Neha Kaul and epileptologist Joshua Laing.

For guidance on providing the ketogenic diet, contact Neha Kaul.

Read the paper: Practical Considerations for Ketogenic Diet in Adults With Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus | Neurology Clinical Practice 

More about the ketogenic diet as epilepsy treatment (ILAE Epigraph article).

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

How can you describe your first seizures to a doctor if you don't remember them happening? What if your university professors don't believe you have epilepsy? How do you handle misinformation from family and friends about what epilepsy is?

Bright M. Bwalya has had to answer each of these questions, and more. Diagnosed with epilepsy in 2016, Bright coupled his experiences with curiosity and compassion to become one of Zambia's foremost epilepsy advocates. In 2021, he won an IBE Golden Light Award for his efforts.

Sharp Waves talked with Bright, as well as Drs Naluca Mwendaweli and Deanna Saylor, to learn about issues facing people with epilepsy in Zambia and how doctors and patients are working to increase awareness and understanding of the condition. Bright's story is unique, and yet it could be almost anyone's story, anywhere in the world.

Bright is developing an app (Seizure Assistant) to help people with epilepsy. He is active on Facebook and Twitter.

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's pre-eminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Edited and produced by Nancy Volkers.  We welcome feedback and ideas for future episodes at podcast@ilae.org.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Before 2018, epilepsy in Zambia was treated as a mental illness by the health care system,  though many people viewed it as a manifestation of demonic possession or witchcraft. Epilepsy education for the public was non-existent, and specialty care unheard of.  Now Zambia's first neurology training program, launched in 2018, is shifting an entire country's perception of what epilepsy is, and how to treat it.
 
 This episode includes interviews with Deanna Saylor, program director of the post-graduate training program in neurology at the University of Zambia, and Melody Asukile, an adult neurologist with an interest in epilepsy, and one of the program's first graduates.
 
 Edited and produced by Nancy Volkers. Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

We welcome episode feedback and ideas for future episodes at podcast@ilae.org.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

Let us know how we're doing: info@ilae.org

The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.