Epilepsy Sparks Insights

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...

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...

The updated seizure terminology aims to make life easier for everyone both affected by focal seizures and those involved in epilepsy care. In this episode, Prof. Sándor Beniczky breaks down why "consciousness" is now the key term used to describe focal seizures, and how it imporves clarity, consistency, and global usability - benefiting those with with an epilepsy, carers, GPs/physicians, nurses,...

Prof. Nicola Specchio shares insights into how regional and global collaboration can strengthen epilepsy care, highlighting the need for coordinated systems, improved pathways and fairer access to expertise. The episode also examines the impact of emerging scientific developments and how shared standards across countries could support better long-term outcomes for people living with an epilepsy. W...

The epilepsies are a complex neurological disease, and patients, families, and clinicians all deserve clear, empowering information! Torie Robinson sits down with nurse, writer Cheryl Tveit and paediatric neurologist/epileptologist writer Dr. Charbel El Kosseifi. from Gillette Children’s Hospital to discuss their new Mac Keith Press book: “Epilepsy”. They explain how they simplified the science fo...

This chat delves into the intricate relationship between the blood-brain barrier and epilepsy - particularly temporal lobe epilepsy! Claire, Chris, and Torie highlight the dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier in people with an epilepsy, the role of imaging techniques in assessing this dysfunction, and the outcomes of surgical interventions. Excitingly, Claire and Chris also explore future resear...

Around 20–30% of people with an epilepsy don’t respond well to anti-seizure medications - so what happens next? Dr. Ricardo Morcos (UCLH) joins host Torie Robinson to explain the epilepsy surgery journey: how people are assessed, what tests are involved, and how teams make decisions together. We discuss: The “tube map”(!) that helps explain this complex process Why surgery isn’t talked about enoug...

We discuss: Why epilepsy is up to four times more common in prison populations The role of traumatic brain injuries, substance use & mental health Barriers to accessing epilepsy specialists behind bars Misuse, mistiming, & under-optimisation of anti-seizure medications The continued use of rectal diazepam and lack of rescue treatment awareness Increased SUDEP risks for people with epilepsy...

The ILAE Academy is changing how clinicians and researchers learn about the epilepsies! Prof. Gagandeep Singh, Chair of the ILAE Education Council, joins Torie to explain how this innovative, self-paced, and structured platform is helping to shape the next generation of epilepsy specialists! We discuss: What the ILAE Academy is and who it’s for How it keeps up with new discoveries Why accessibilit...

How much do carers really contribute to epilepsy care, & why are their struggles so often invisible? 💜 Dr. Florien Boele, a researcher in psychosocial oncology & caregiving, talks about the essential but often overlooked role of unpaid carers for adults with epilepsy. Florien talks with Torie about: Who carers are The staggering £184 billion value that carers add to the UK economy The per...

Did you know seizure diaries in LGS & Dravet often capture less than half of seizures?! Today we hear from Dr. Ewan Nurse, an engineer & epilepsy researcher in Melbourne, who shares research into seizure reporting in developmental & epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). We explore why seizure diaries miss so many seizures, how carers sometimes log non-seizure events, and what that means f...

In this first half of our chat with Dr. Ewan Nurse, we explore why seizure reporting matters so much in epilepsy care. From forgotten focal seizures to the challenges of eyewitness accounts, Ewan explains why accurate seizure diaries are vital yet so difficult to achieve. We discuss research findings showing that most minor seizures go unreported(!), why some go over-reported(!), the role of memor...

In this second episode with Dr Phillip Pearl, we explore the human side of rare epilepsies: what drives him as a paediatric neurologist, how advocacy transforms progress, and why research in ultra-rare conditions can change the lives of people with common disorders. We also tackle difficult but vital topics - SUDEP, depression, and suicide in epilepsy - and end on a hopeful note with music and the...