Epilepsy Sparks Insights

By Torie RobinsonScience Medicine Health & Fitness Life Sciences

Epilepsy Sparks Insights episodes

October 29 The Epilepsy Risks Nobody Used to Talk About - Prof. Torbjörn Tomson
Epilepsy care has come a long way - from safer pregnancies and advances in genetics to better understanding the risks of epilepsy, including SUDEP. But why are some risks still not openly discussed, and could we one day prevent epilepsy rather than simply control seizures? Hear from leading epilepsy researcher Prof. Torbjörn Tomson on this week's podcast.
This episode is sponsored by the Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Course organised by the Spanish Epilepsy Society - supporting education and public understanding of epilepsy.
Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:25 Meet Torbjörn Tomson
03:26 Discoveries from epilepsy research
05:55 Pregnancy in women with an epilepsy - history
08:06 Fear and risk of fetal abnormalities - a reduction
09:50 Benefits of epilepsy pregnancy registers
11:54 The valproate debacle - positive changes
15:26 SUDEP history, education, and risk reduction
23:15 Other risks to minimise
25:23 Shared decision-making (clinician and person with an epilepsy/carer)
25:48 Hopes for the future: anti-epileptogenic treatments
27:37 Closing thoughts and thanks
🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/progress-history-epilepsy-care
🌐 More about Torbjörn epilepsysparks.com/guests/torbjorn-tomson
🌐 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
📲 Join us on social media!
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29 min
October 22 Epilepsy Care: When Treatment Isn't Working - Prof. Bernhard Steinhoff
Good epilepsy care isn't about pills - it's about prevention, care, prescribing the right treatment, at the right time, for the right person. It’s about understanding each individual, their specific needs, and looking beyond seizure control. Hear more from Epileptologist Prof. Bernhard Steinhoff on this week’s podcast.
This episode is sponsored by the Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Course organised by the Spanish Epilepsy Society - supporting education and public understanding of epilepsy.
Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:34 Meet Bernhard Steinhoff
02:04 What is great epilepsy care?
03:20 Using the right medications
06:39 Capacity of neurolgoists
09:11 Sleep, alcohol, driving, and bathing
12:44 Talking about SUDEP
15:40 When people don’t know they’ve seized
17:41 When you find out you don’t have an epilepsy
18:46 Therapeutic nihilism
21:27 Strategy: new medications and side effects
24:02 Epilepsy surgery
26:03 Precision medicine for children and in DEEs
27:15 Increasing number of older people with an epilepsy: the future
30:01 Hope: never give up
30:33 Closing thoughts and thanks
🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/treatment-strategy-specialist-epilepsy-care
🌐 More about Bernhard epilepsysparks.com/guests/bernhard-steinhoff
🌐 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
📲 Join us on social media!
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〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
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32 min
October 15 Developing Epilepsy When You're Older - What That Means - Dr. Manuel Toledo
What’s it like to have/develop an epilepsy when you’re 65+ years? Epileptologist Dr. Manuel Toledo shares how commonly this age group is affected, the differences and challenges in having an epilepsy at an older age, what the priorities are, how medication effectiveness can vary, and so much more! Tune in to learn more.
This episode is sponsored by the Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Course organised by the Spanish Epilepsy Society - supporting education and public understanding of epilepsy.
Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:32 Meet Manuel Toledo
03:14 Epilepsy in people 65+ years
04:36 Why is epilepsy so common in older people?
07:07 Common challenges of having an epilepsy when 65+ years
09:18 A fragile population
10:25 Stigma in this age group
15:04 Cognitive impairment and dementia
18:53 Epileptic seizures - or not?
22:01 Serious events missed if misdiagnosed with an epilepsy
26:05 Day to day awareness: things to know
32:33 Future impacts of research into epilepsy in older people
35:02 Closing thoughts and thanks
🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/older-people
🌐 More about Manuel epilepsysparks.com/guests/manuel-toledo
🎧 Manuel's episode on travelling with an epilepsy: https://share.transistor.fm/s/4ddd368c
🌐 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
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
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36 min
October 08 Using a Phone App To Diagnose Epilepsy - from Thousands of Miles Away - Dr. Victor Patterson
How can we improve access to epilepsy diagnoses around the world? Neurologist Dr. Victor Patterson shares with us how telemedicine and simple apps, AI, and machine learning can bring epilepsy expertise to people wherever they live - and make a huge difference to millions of lives!
Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:19 Meet Victor Patterson
02:00 What is telemedicine and how did it start?
05:03 Using an app to diagnose epilepsy
09:13 More generalised than focal seizures in low-middle income countries
10:17 Machine learning in epilepsy diagnoses
11:03 Inaccuracies in diagnosis - what then?
12:26 Let’s take action!
12:58 Diagnoses aren’t always complex
14:54 AI and the future in medicine
16:03 Closing thoughts and thanks
🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/telemedicine-ai-machine-learning-lmic
🌐 More about Victor epilepsysparks.com/guests/victor-patterson
🌐 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
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
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〰️ Bluesky epilepsysparks
17 min
October 01 Who Doesn't Get Treatment for their Epilepsy? - Dr. Jonathan Williams
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
🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights
🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
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14 min
September 24 Epilepsy Impacting Cognition? - Dr. Jake Pellinen
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
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
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18 min
September 17 New Types of Epilepsy Surgery - Prof. Sarat Chandra
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
📲 Join us on social media!
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20 min
September 03 Reasons To Have Epilepsy Surgery - Prof. Sarat Chandra
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
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
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20 min
July 30 Still Having Seizures? Don't Just Accept It - Dr. Manjari Tripathi
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
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
〰️ TikTok epilepsysparks
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20 min
July 23 Why Don't Antiseizure Medications Work for Everyone? - Graeme Sills, PhD
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
📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
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〰️ Bluesky epilepsysparks
19 min

About Epilepsy Sparks Insights

From the publisher's feed

Sparking interest and understanding in the epilepsies whilst bridging the communication gap between epilepsy patients, clinicians, scientists, geneticists – and the world. Hosted by Torie Robinson.