Epilepsy Sparks Insights

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 access specialist ketogenic therapy services. This is episode 2 of 2 with Manny.

This episode is sponsored by Kanso, a brand by Dr. Schär, who had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about Kanso here: kanso.com/en

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:50 When do you know if the ketogenic diet isn’t working?
03:40 Impact on quality of life - anxiety, depression, cognition
05:45 Misinformation regarding medical ketogenic therapy
08:44 Feeling full
09:55 When the diet isn’t safe
12:20 Secondary benefits of keto diet
14:08 Bipolar disorder and the diet
14:53 Cholesterol - the elephant in the room
18:28 Lack of adult ketogenic diet treatment centres
23:19 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/efficacy-safety-mood-availability

🌐 More about Manny epilepsysparks.com/guests/manny-bagary

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

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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, and how it can help with status epilepticus! This is episode 1 of 2 with Manny.

This episode is sponsored by Kanso, a brand by Dr. Schär, who had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about Kanso here: kanso.com/en

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:29 Meet Manny
02:03 What are ketogenesis, ketosis, ketone bodies, etc.?
04:17 What makes ketosis stop seizures (in some people)?
08:00 Impacts on anxiety, depression, cognition and more
09:42 Different types of ketogenic diet
13:17 Ketogenic therapy for status epilepticus
16:31 Ketogenic diet in adults
19:10 Forms of treatment - when does the ketogenic diet come in?
22:28 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/ketones-anxiety-depression-status-epilepticus

🌐 More about Manny epilepsysparks.com/guests/manny-bagary

🌐 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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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 everyday life.

This episode is sponsored by Kanso, a brand by Dr. Schär and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about Kanso here: kanso.com/en

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:38 Why is the ketogenic diet not widely used?
04:02 Research: supporting people trying the ketogenic diet
04:48 What is ketosis?
07:15 Other benefits of ketogenic diet
08:58 Ketogenic diet for adults - research
09:34 Who’s suitable for the diet?
12:37 Confusion re the diet
14:01 Who responds well to the diet?
15:32 Mistakes with the diet are normal
18:38 Safety concerns - cholesterol and nutrient deficiencies?
22:37 How much fat, protein, and carbs should be consumed?
23:39 Interactions with medications
25:32 Benefits vs trade-offs
27:47 Understanding personal barriers, support needed
29:36 Neurologists & those with an epilepsy: know this
32:34 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/ketogenic-diet-support

📖 Jasper's Basics of Epilepsies: academic.oup.com/book/57972/chapter/476213922

🌐 More about Neha epilepsysparks.com/guests/neha-kaul

🌐 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

Click here to view the episode transcript.

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 epilepsy diagnosis & The Human Epilepsy Project
03:05 “Later onset focal epilepsy with roots in childhood: Evidence from early learning difficulty and brain volumes in the Human Epilepsy Project” paper
07:29 Anticipating seizure onset
08:30 Improving recognition of seizure symptoms
09:02 Seizing for years before diagnosis
10:33 Learning difficulties not Intellectual Disability
13:18 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/unrecognised-focal-onset-childhood

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

🌐 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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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 improve everyday functioning.

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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 symptoms through observation and communication, cultural aspects, and why listening carefully to patients can sometimes be just as important as EEGs, MRIs, and other investigations!

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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, aiming to determine whether changes in brain networks can explain cognitive improvement and help predict who will benefit from intervention.

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🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider!

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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 move care beyond traditional limitations.

This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en

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🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider!

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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 changes can improve wellbeing.

This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en

👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻

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🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider!

🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻

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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 needs to change to improve access and outcomes.

This episode is sponsored by EASEE® by Precisis GmbH and had no influence over the editorial content or discussion. Learn more about EASEE® here: https://precisis.de/en

👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻

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🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻

https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎧 Listen to the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite provider!

🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻

https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

📲 Join us on social media!

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