Sharp Waves: ILAE's epilepsy podcast

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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:  [email protected]

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.

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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:  [email protected]

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.

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:  [email protected]

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.

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:  [email protected]

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.

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:  [email protected]

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.