Epilepsy Sparks Insights

Delays in epilepsy surgery referral are not just about access and are not limited to one region. Epileptologist Asst. Prof. Juan Perez discusses paediatric epilepsy surgery across Latin America, where services exist but remain underutilised, and how misconceptions, training gaps, and system-level barriers continue to prevent eligible children from being referred for surgical evaluation, as well as what needs to change to improve access and outcomes. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social

What happens when epilepsy medication doesn’t work? Prof. John Duncan explains how treatment decisions evolve beyond medication, from resective surgery to neuromodulation, and how patients and clinicians weigh these options together. The conversation covers real-world outcomes, risks, and the balance between seizure control, cognitive function, and quality of life. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social

Why does epilepsy still receive so little funding, attention and public understanding compared to other diseases? Intellectual disability nurse Jay Price discusses why epilepsy remains underfunded and badly marketed, alongside misdiagnosis, quality of life, and how co-produced training could improve epilepsy care! This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/epilepsy-ignored 🌐 More about Jay 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/jay-price 📃 Paper "Epilepsy, it's just not sexy, is it?’: A qualitative exploration into health and social care professionals' perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy, in social care" 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsybehavior.com/article/S1525-5050(25)00437-8/fulltext 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social

Many epilepsy lesions that cause seizures are missed on routine MRI scans, delay diagnosis and surgery. Dr. Konrad Wagstyl discusses his research using AI and large MRI datasets to detect subtle abnormalities such as focal cortical dysplasia and hippocampal sclerosis. The conversation explores how these tools help identify surgical candidates earlier and improve outcomes in epilepsy! This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/mri-lesion-detection-ai 🌐 More about Konrad 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/konrad-wagstyl 📃 Paper "Automated and Interpretable Detection of Hippocampal Sclerosis in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: AID-HS" 👇🏻 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ana.27089 🎞️ MELD project guide 👇🏻 https://www.youtube.com/@MELDproject 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social

Generalised epilepsy is often described as involving the whole brain at once. But does it start all at once? Dr. Frederic Schaper discusses research mapping subtle brain abnormalities to shared brain networks in generalised epilepsy, and how these networks overlap with targets used for deep brain stimulation. The conversation explores what this may reveal about seizure mechanisms and future neuromodulation research. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/generalised-epilepsy-network-dbs 🌐 More about Frederic 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/frederic-schaper 📃 Paper "A generalized epilepsy network derived from brain abnormalities and deep brain stimulation" 👇🏻 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57392-7 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​

Psychiatric symptoms are common in the epilepsies, yet they are often overlooked in clinical care. Dr. Andres M. Kanner, epileptologist and Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Miami, explains why mental health symptoms are central to epilepsy outcomes - not peripheral! Topics include depression, anxiety, psychosis, ADHD, suicide risk, family psychiatric history, and how these factors influence antiseizure medication choices and quality of life. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/mental-health-epilepsy 🌐 More about Andres 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/andres-miguel-kanner 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​

Flash-back to our most popular episode*! Epileptologist & neurologist Dr. Ángel Aledo-Serrano talks of his review and opinion on a former paper regarding the antiseizure medication Levetiracetam/Keppra, its effectiveness in controlling seizures, but also the importance of precision medicine. He also speaks of the need to improve prescribing and avoid polypharmacy for people with an epilepsy, the need for further qualitative research into treatment and care, and convincing clinicians that epilepsy is far more than seizures alone. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH, who had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/keppra-levetiracetam-quality-of-life 🌐 More about Ángel 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/angel-aledo-serrano 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​ *2023

Who should receive genetic testing in epilepsy, and how should results really be interpreted? Epileptologist and scientist Dr. Christian Bosselmann explores genome sequencing, diagnostic yield, variants of uncertain significance, and why results are rarely black and white. The discussion highlights how quickly things are changing in epilepsy genetics and how re-analysis and improved interpretation can meaningfully influence clinical decision-making. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH, who had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/genetic-testing-variant-interpretation 🌐 More about Christian 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/christian-bosselmann 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​ ​

Who is already using generative AI in health care, and what does the evidence actually show? Researcher Charlotte Blease, PhD, examines the positives, patient and clinician uptake, emerging risks, and where major gaps in training, policy, and research remain. The discussion explores mental health use, long-term conditions, empathy, and why regulation is struggling to keep pace with real-world practice. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/ai-in-healthcare-evidence 🌐 More about Charlotte 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/charlotte-blease 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​

Accelerated brain ageing is a key feature of epilepsy that cannot be explained by seizures alone. Drawing on longitudinal imaging and biomarker research, Dr. Marian Galovic discusses neurodegeneration beyond seizure activity and the clinical importance of early intervention. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/neurodegeneration-brain-ageing 🌐 More about Marian 👇🏻 www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/marian-galovic 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks - Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​

Seizures are often the focus in childhood epilepsies, but they certainly are not the only symptoms affecting outcomes and quality of life. This episode with Prof. Kette Valente looks at the non-seizure features that matter personally and clinically, why they can be missed, and why identifying them early can change care and long-term impact. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights//seizures-not-only-problem 🌐 More about Kette 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/kette-valente 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social ​

Routine EEG provides a brief snapshot of brain activity and may not capture seizures or epileptiform activity. In this conversation, neurologist Prof. Norman Delanty explains how extended and implantable EEG monitoring can improve assessment of seizure burden, support treatment decisions, and clarify diagnosis and management when short recordings are insufficient. This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/long-term-eeg-monitoring 🌐 More about Norman 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/norman-delanty 📃 Related paper 👇🏻 "Unilateral ultra long-term subcutaneous EEG monitoring in drug-refractory idiopathic generalized epilepsy" https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/epi.18644 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social

In part two of this conversation, Dr. Ching Soong Khoo discusses practical approaches to managing obesity in epilepsy, including exercise safety, diet, and multidisciplinary care. The episode highlights why weight and physical health are often overlooked in routine practice, and how simple clinical changes can support better quality of life and overall outcomes in people with an epilepsy. 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/obesity-quality-of-life 🌐 More about Ching Soong 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/ching-soong-khoo 📜 Related publications - “High prevalence of obesity and reduced physical activity among people with epilepsy: A single-centre cross-sectional study” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505025004755 - “Epilepsy, seizures, physical exercise, and sports: A report from the ILAE Task Force on Sports and Epilepsy” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26662920 - “Stop stigma, start exercising: How clinicians can encourage people with epilepsy to engage in physical activity” https://www.ilae.org/journals/epigraph/epigraph-vol-25-issue-1-winter-2023/stop-stigma-start-exercising-how-clinicians-can-encourage-people-with-epilepsy-to-engage-in-physical-activity 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social

Why is obesity so common in people with epilepsy - and why is it often overlooked in clinical care? Dr. Ching Soong Khoo shares new research findings on obesity prevalence, physical activity, and mobility, and discusses how fear, diet, and behaviour intersect with epilepsy management. The episode highlights why addressing weight alongside seizure control matters for long-term health and quality of life. 🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/obesity-health-fitness 🌐 More about Ching Soong 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/guests/ching-soong-khoo 📜 Related publications - “High prevalence of obesity and reduced physical activity among people with epilepsy: A single-centre cross-sectional study” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505025004755 - “Epilepsy, seizures, physical exercise, and sports: A report from the ILAE Task Force on Sports and Epilepsy” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26662920 - “Stop stigma, start exercising: How clinicians can encourage people with epilepsy to engage in physical activity” https://www.ilae.org/journals/epigraph/epigraph-vol-25-issue-1-winter-2023/stop-stigma-start-exercising-how-clinicians-can-encourage-people-with-epilepsy-to-engage-in-physical-activity 👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com 🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights 🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider! 🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary 📲 Join us on social media! LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks