Interviews with inspiring clinicians, scientists, researchers & geneticists in the field of epilepsy - out every Thursday.
Available on your podcast app & YouTube. **NOT FOR CLINICAL OR PATIENT DECISION MAKING**
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Looking for earlier episodes? You’ll find our full archive at torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights
Good epilepsy care isn't about pills - it's about prevention, care, prescribing the right treatment, at the right time, for the right patient. Hear more from Epileptologist Dr. Bernhard J. Steinhoff.
What’s it like to have/develop an epilepsy when you’re 65+ years? Epileptologist Dr. Manuel Toledo shares the differences and challenges in having an epilepsy at an older age, what the priorities are, how medication effectiveness can vary, and more.
Hear how telemedicine, apps, AI, and machine learning can bring epilepsy expertise to people wherever they live - and why relatively simple technology could make a huge difference to millions of lives. With Dr. Victor Patterson.
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. Dr. Jonathan Williams explains health equity and how to provide people with what they need and deserve.
Does epilepsy impact cognition? Could it be seizures, medications - or something that happened before seizures started? Hear all about it from epileptologist Dr. Jacob Pellinen.
Hear about newer types of epilepsy surgery, including the Robotic Thermocoagulative Hemispherotomy - for which you need a plaster and which costs £15 GBP. Also, what defines epilepsy surgery success? Learn more in this week’s episode.
Many are 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.
Still having seizures despite medication? Discover when epilepsy is considered drug-resistant, how lifestyle changes and surgery may help, and why treating the whole person - not just their seizures - can improve quality of life.
How do we reduce the 30% of people who have uncontrollable seizures? Pharmacologist Graeme Sills PhD, explains the complexities of epilepsy treatment, the challenges of drug-resistance, and where to go going forward.
Could a brain implant do more than reduce seizures? Dr. Vikram Rao explains how responsive neurostimulation (RNS) is changing epilepsy treatment, who may benefit, and why researchers are so excited about its future.
Could epilepsy be caused by just a tiny number of abnormal brain cells? Dr Stéphanie Baulac explains how hidden genetic mutations in the brain are transforming our understanding of focal cortical dysplasia and opening the door to future precision medicine.
Could inflammation and the blood-brain barrier help explain why some seizures remain uncontrolled? Prof. Colin Doherty shares emerging research into immune activity in epilepsy!
Could the immune system play a role in some treatment-resistant epilepsies? Prof. Colin Doherty discusses autoimmune epilepsies, early immunotherapy findings, and why epilepsy may involve more than abnormal electrical activity alone.
How may medical ketogenic therapy reduce anxiety, depression, and improve cognition? What might the effects be on cholesterol levels? What about support for those on the diet? Hear more from Dr. Manny Bagary.
How can ketones affect the brain in epilepsy? Dr. Manny Bagary explores the science behind medical ketogenic therapy, including brain excitability, neurotransmitters, mitochondria, inflammation, cognition and status epilepticus.
Exploring the complexities and benefits of ketogenic therapy for epilepsy, addressing misconceptions, patient selection, mechanisms of action, safety concerns, and the importance of multidisciplinary care - with Dr. Neha Kaul.
Dr. Jacob Pellinen discusses the Human Epilepsy Project, subtle focal seizures, delayed epilepsy diagnosis, learning difficulties, brain volume changes, and why epilepsy symptoms may begin years before recognised seizure onset.
Dr. Laurie Miller explains why memory problems happen in epilepsy, how different memory systems are affected, and the practical evidence-based strategies that may help improve everyday functioning.
What does epilepsy care look like when a clinician has to see more than 60 people in one 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 India.
Can exercise improve memory in people with an epilepsy? Jane Allendorfer shares early evidence from a six-week intervention and her newly completed randomised trial exploring how physical activity may drive cognitive improvement and changes in brain connectivity.