Sharp Waves: ILAE's epilepsy podcast

ILAE
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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.

  1. 5H AGO

    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.

    30 min

  2. APR 23

    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.

    31 min

  3. MAR 31

    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.

    29 min

  4. MAR 10

    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.

    22 min

  5. FEB 16

    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.

    23 min

  6. FEB 9

    "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.

    14 min

  7. FEB 2

    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.

    31 min

  8. JAN 19

    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.

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

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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.

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