Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people. Every day. Sharp Waves brings you stories about people with epilepsy, physicians treating epilepsy, and researchers studying the condition. We'll cover the latest research, challenges to diagnosis and treatment, and issues from around the world.
First seizure from sleep - What is the risk of recurrence? Dr. Elaine Pang -encore episode (2023)
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Tumor associated epilepsy: Dr. Katie Peters
Send comments and feedback In this episode of Sharp Waves , host Nancy welcomes renowned neurologist and neuro-oncologist Dr. Katie Peters from the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center to discuss the important connection between brain tumors and epilepsy. Dr. Peters shares her expertise on how brain tumors can contribute to seizure disorders, the challenges patients face, and the latest approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and care. Whether you're a healthcare professional, patient, caregiver, or simply interested in neuroscience, this insightful conversation offers valuable perspectives on navigating these complex neurological conditions. Tune in for an engaging discussion with one of the field's leading experts. 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 .
Epilepsy and functional/dissociative seizures: Dr. Wesley Kerr and Dr. Shruti Iyer
Send comments and feedback In this Sharp Waves podcast episode “Epilepsy and Functional/Dissociative Seizures,” Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD, a statistician and epileptologist at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, joins Shruti Iyer, MD, a third year neurology resident at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, to discuss their recently published study on categorizing the probability of epilepsy in patients already diagnosed with functional dissociative seizures (FDS). The conversation highlights how this proposed framework may help clinicians better identify patients who could have coexisting epilepsy and improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. The episode also notes that functional dissociative seizures were previously, and in some settings are still, referred to as psychogenic non epileptic seizures (PNES). You can access the research article here . 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 .
Autism and epilepsy: Dr. Colin Reilly and Dr. Stéphane Auvin -encore episode (2023)
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Autoimmune-associated epilepsy: Dr. Claude Steriade - encore episode (2022)
Send comments and feedback 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 -- This episode was reported by Dr. Maryam Nabavi-Nouri, 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 .
Sleep and epilepsy: Dr. Birgit Frauscher - encore episode (2023)
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Seizure action plans as educational tools: Dr. Lucretia Long - encore episode (2024)
Send comments and feedback 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 .
ILAE Updated seizure classification Part 2: Prof. Eugen Trinka
Send comments and feedback 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 .
"Living with epilepsy should not be a secret": Jessie Nyirenda - encore episode (2022)
Send comments and feedback 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 .
EpiCARE: The European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Intellectual disability and epilepsy: A patient-centered perspective
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Acute symptomatic seizures: Dr. Marian Galovic
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Dravet Syndrome: Dr. Ingrid Scheffer
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Drug-resistant epilepsy: Dr. Patrick Kwan
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Normalizing depression in epilepsy: Screening, diagnosis, treatment - Dr. Rosa Michaelis
Send comments and feedback 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 .
A novel patient-reported outcome measure for epilepsy: The impacts of seizures and treatment
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Social work in epilepsy: Closing the treatment gap and improving quality of life - Dr. Rugare Mugumbate
Send comments and feedback 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: Dr. Christian Bosselmann
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Research recap: Empiric immunotherapy for highly refractory epilepsy: Dr. Elisabeth Doran
Send comments and feedback 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 .
Genetic testing: Variants of uncertain significance (VUS) - Dr. Gemma Carvill
Send comments and feedback 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 .
