Epilepsy Sparks Insights

Why don’t we all have the same access to and quality of epilepsy treatment and care? We all deserve the best, no matter what makes us different. Today we hear from neurologist & epileptologist Dr. Jonathan Williams about these needs, health equity, and how we can satisfy them - through working together and addressing stigma.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
00:45 Meet Jonathan Wlliams
01:04 What is health equity?
02:36 The invisible things that affect health
03:48 Why is health equity important?
05:59 What are the societal costs of epilepsy?
06:52 Why should people without an epilepsy care?
08:42 Employment and driving
10:14 Next steps: education & challenging stigma
13:11 Closing thoughts and thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/health-equity-disparities

🌐 More about Jonathan epilepsysparks.com/guests/jonathan-williams

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

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🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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Does epilepsy impact cognition? Could it be seizures, medications - or something that happened right at the beginning - even before seizures started? Hear all about it from epileptologist Dr. Jacob Pellinen who speaks of exciting answers - and questions - from the Human Epilepsy Project.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:07 Meet Jacob Pellinen
01:17 Cognitive testing: The Human Epilepsy Project
05:01 Types of cognitive testing used
07:08 Results: cognition and epilepsy
08:34 What might be causing the cognitive problems?
09:44 Clinicians must take a holistic approach in care
11:36 Cognitive issues with other causes
12:27 Depression doesn’t cause epilepsy!
13:51 Cognitive challenges must be addressed with all other symptoms
15:14 Terrible experience - what a clinician should not do!
15:56 Appointments: topic could be depression or memory - not just seizures
16:37 Closing thoughts and thanks 

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/cognition-memory-attention-perception-metacognition-language

🌐 More about Jacob epilepsysparks.com/guests/jacob-pellinen

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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What are some newer types of epilepsy surgery? Today we hear about the new version called Robotic Thermocoagulative Hemispherotomy - for which you need a plaster! Also, what defines epilepsy surgery success? It isn't always just seizure reduction or freedom. Hear  all about it from epilepsy surgeon Prof. Sarat Chandra.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:19 Different epilepsy surgery techniques
03:26 Endoscopic hemispherectomy
07:11 Measuring the success of epilepsy surgery
09:04 Improvements in mood
09:44 Managing expectations
11:03 Robotic Thermocoagulative Hemispherotomy
17:02 Future use of lasers and radiofrequency
18:14 The monetary price of Robotic Thermocoagulative Hemispherotomies
19:06 Closing thoughts and thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsy-sparks-insights/radio-frequency-robotic-thermocoagulative-hemispherotomy

🌐 More about Sarat epilepsysparks.com/guests/sarat-chandra

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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Lots of people are very scared of epilepsy surgery. What are the risks of having it? What are the risks of not having it? Potential benefits? The processes beforehand? Hear all about it from epilepsy surgeon Prof. Sarat Chandra!.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:02 Meet Sarat Chandra
01:55 Reasons to get epilepsy surgery
05:03 Different types of epilepsy surgery
08:19 Fear, full investigations, and consent for epilepsy surgery
11:38 Example: Stereoelectroencephalography
14:15 Measuring success of an epilepsy surgery and “The burden of normality”
16:18 Considering memory
18:49 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsy-sparks-insights/neurosurgery-risks-benefits-memory

🌐 More about Sarat epilepsysparks.com/guests/sarat-chandra

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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With neurologist Dr. Manjari Tripathi we hear about the complex world of epilepsy management, focusing on how treatments go beyond medications - including lifestyle changes and innovative surgical options! Join Manjari as she demystifies epilepsy treatments, preventative measures, quality of life, and looking at epilepsy surgery.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:03 Meet Manjari Tripathi
01:39 Epilepsy Is More Than Seizure Control: Daily Life, Stigma, and Mental Health
03:38 Diagnosing Epilepsy: Clinical History, EEG, Imaging, and Finding the Cause
05:27 Before Calling Epilepsy Drug-Resistant: Medication Adherence, Lifestyle, and Assessment
08:20 Why Early Referral Matters and How Patients Reach Epilepsy Surgery
11:01 Who Can Have Surgery? Ketogenic Therapy, Yoga, and Other Options When Surgery Isn’t Suitable
14:40 Improving Quality of Life: Exercise, Mental Health, Emotional Support, Family Communication, and Community Inclusion
18:25 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/diagnosis-treatment-mental-health-surgery-yoga

🌐 More about Manjari epilepsysparks.com/guests/manjari-tripathi

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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Why do around 30% of people with epilepsy still have uncontrolled seizures despite decades of new antiseizure medications? Graeme Sills, PhD, explains the leading theories behind drug resistance - and how a better understanding of the brain could transform future epilepsy treatments.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
00:45 Meet Graeme Sills
01:29 Introduction to pharmacology and epilepsy
02:17 Challenges in epilepsy reatment
06:30 Why the drugs don’t work: the drug-transporter hypothesis
08:38 Why the drugs don’t work: the network hypothesis
09:31 Why the drugs don’t work: the severity and genetic hypothesis
10:06 Future directions in epilepsy research
13:08 Innovative approaches to research and treatment?
17:58 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/pharmacology-past-present-future

🌐 More about Graeme epilepsysparks.com/guests/graeme-sills

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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Could a brain implant do more than reduce seizures? Dr. Vikram Rao explains how responsive neurostimulation (RNS) is changing the treatment of epilepsy, why researchers think it may work differently than first imagined, and how the technology is helping us learn more about the brain than ever before. Could it even help treat conditions beyond epilepsy in the future?

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:07 Meet Dr. Vikram Rao
02:01 What is RNS (Responsive Neurostimulation)?
03:38 Surgery length and battery replacement
04:21 Who’s suitable for RNS?
05:12 Where RNS wires are placed
06:53 RNS: a preventative approach?
09:50 RNS data recording benefits
12:11 Suitable for focal or generalised epilepsy?
12:59 Benefits for DEEs, treatment resistant depression, and OCD?
15:15 More information
15:55 Safety and further development of RNS
18:19 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/rns-responsive-neurostimulation

🌐 More about Vikrkam epilepsysparks.com/guests/vikram-rao

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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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 epilepsy and could pave the way for highly targeted treatments in the future.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
00:55 Meet Dr. Stéphanie Baulac
01:12 What is focal cortical dysplasia?
02:33 Are these genetic mutations inherited?
04:17 How can so few cells cause seizures?
07:12 What is mosaicism?
09:26 What does this mean for families?
10:03 What is precision medicine?
10:04 Can treatments target only the affected brain cells?
12:49 Why were these mutations only discovered recently?
14:23 How are these mutations detected?
15:09 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/fcd-mosaicism-somatic

🌐 More about Stéphanie epilepsysparks.com/guests/stephanie-baulac

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🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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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 therapy for autoimmune diseases
01:27 Hypothesis: could steroids prevent seizures through mending the leakage of the Blood Brain Barrier?
03:53 Neurologists and researchers need to think about autoimmune
04:57 Blood Brain Barrier, steroids and genetics - current study
07:01 History: why haven’t we done this research already?
08:13 Immunologists: work with us!
09:48 Comparison: cancer and immunology
12:08 Clinicians and scientists: work with us!
13:51 People with an epilepsy and carers: work with us!
15:27 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsy-sparks-insights/autoimmune-therapy-blood-brain-barrier

🌐 More about Colin epilepsysparks.com/guests/colin-doherty

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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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 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
00:44 Not just an “electrical disorder”
02:19 30% still don’t have seizure control
03:06 Epilepsy surgery
04:54 Immunotherapy for epilepsy
06:28 Immunotherapy cases
10:20 Needing an immunotherapy program
12:10 Steroids and profit
13:16 Impacts of steroids - safety
14:55 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsy-sparks-insights/autoimmune-therapy

🌐 More about Colin epilepsysparks.com/guests/colin-doherty

Episode mentioned:
🌐 Neurologist Diagnosed With Epilepsy - You'll Love His Positivity - Dr Jim Morrow

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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