Epilepsy Sparks Insights

Most people think every cell in their body contains exactly the same DNA. It turns out that's not always true. Epilepsy genetics researcher Dr. Stéphanie Baulac explains mosaicism, how tiny genetic mutations can exist in just a small number of brain cells, and why they can cause a type of epilepsy called focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). These discoveries are transforming our understanding of epilep...

Could inflammation and the blood-brain barrier help explain why some seizures remain uncontrolled? Prof. Colin Doherty discusses emerging research into immune activity in epilepsy, how steroids may temporarily improve seizure control, and why future immunotherapies could help some people whose seizures do not respond to current treatments. Chapters 📖 00:00 Trailer & intro 00:31 Precision ther...

Could the immune system play a bigger role in epilepsy than many of us realise? Prof. Colin Doherty explains how autoimmune epilepsies challenged the traditional view of epilepsy as purely an electrical disorder. He also discusses antibody-negative autoimmune epilepsy, early immunotherapy studies, and why some people with highly refractory epilepsy may respond to steroid treatment. Chapters 📖 00:...

Could medical ketogenic therapy improve more than seizures?! Like anxiety and depression? Dr. Manny Bagary shares how clinciains assess whether ketogenic therapy is working, including its potential effects on anxiety, mood, cognition and quality of life. He also talks about common misconceptions, cholesterol worries, potential pregnancies, and why so many adults with epilepsy still struggle to acc...

Medical Ketogenic Therapy can reduce seizures in some people - but how does it actually work?! Dr. Manny Bagary explains the nitty gritty of ketones, interactions, how they might affect brain excitability, what’s going on with neurotransmitters, mitochondria, inflammation, and even the gut microbiome! He also shares how ketogenic therapy might improve cognition, when a person should be offered it,...

Medical ketogenic therapy has more than 100 years of evidence behind it - so why is it still often treated as a last resort?! Ketogenic dietitian Neha Kaul explains how success can go beyond potential seizure reduction, and how the diet may affect cognition, mood and overall quality of life. Neha also covers common misconceptions, safety concerns, and what it really takes to make the diet work in...

Signs of focal epilepsy before the seizures start: hear all about it from neurologist and epileptologist Dr. Jacob Pellinen, who shares with us his research and results proving that people can experience things like depression or learning difficulties at school or work before seizure onset. Chapters 📖 00:00 Trailer & intro 00:44 Meet Jacob 02:34 Epilepsy is more than seizures 02:54 Later epil...

Memory problems are one of the most common and frustrating symptoms experienced by people with an epilepsy - but what actually causes them? And how can we "treat" them? Dr. Laurie Miller explains how different types of memory work, why memory difficulties are often linked to the underlying brain pathology rather than just seizures, and what evidence-based strategies and techniquest may help improv...

What does epilepsy care look like when a clinician has to see so many people each day?! Prof. Mamta Singh shares what high-volume epilepsy care really looks like in New Delhi - from specialist epilepsy clinics to outreach services across rural regions. We discuss why seizure freedom doesn't automatically equate to good quality of life, how experienced clinicians detect mental health and functional...

Can exercise improve memory in people with an epilepsy? Dr. Jane Allendorfer explores how physical activity may drive measurable changes in verbal learning, memory function, and hippocampal connectivity! Building on a 6-week pilot study showing improved memory performance, we hear about her newly completed randomised clinical trial investigating exercise for memory rehabilitation in epilepsy, aimi...

Can’t find where seizures start in drug-resistant epilepsy? Christos Papadelis, Ph. D, biomedical engineer and researcher, explains how ultra-high-resolution brain mapping and AI are improving seizure localisation and surgical decision-making in children. This episode explores how combining advanced neurophysiology with AI can identify seizure origins and networks, predict surgical outcomes, and m...

Is seizure freedom enough in epilepsy care? Dr. Lucretia Long, epilepsy specialist nurse practitioner, shares why care must go beyond seizure control - with psychiatric symptoms, medication side effects, and cognitive challenges shaping quality of life just as much as seizures. This episode explores how to individualise care, why patient priorities must lead decisions, and how small, realistic cha...

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 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 EAS...

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 e...

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...

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 neurom...

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 fact...

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, t...

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...

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 prac...

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 ab...

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 n...

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 EASE...

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.   🔗 Mor...