61 : The Hidden Link Between Sleep and Seizures

The link between sleep and epilepsy is powerful, complex, and often overlooked. We know that sleep loss and disruptions can trigger seizures in epileptic patients. We also know that repeated seizures during sleep can fragment sleep and reduce the brain's ability to recover. In this episode, we sit down with Dr Shukla, a neurologist specializing in Epilepsy and Sleep, and discuss the intersection of sleep and epilepsy. We talk about the link between sleep disorders and epilepsy, how doctors diagnose sleep-related issues in epilepsy and why treating sleep problems can be an important part of seizure management. Dr. Garima Shukla is a Professor of Neurology, specializing in Epilepsy and Sleep Medicine; and faculty at the Center for Neuroscience studies at the Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, Canada. Her prior appointment was as Professor of Neurology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. Her research focuses on clinical and neurophysiological aspects of the sleep-epilepsy-cognition interface and epilepsy co-morbidities as well as neurological sleep disorders, particularly phenotypes and course of Restless legs syndrome. Her team is currently investigating the role of wake and sleep high-density EEG source localization in predicting overall epilepsy outcomes (seizure control, cognition and mood). Authors: Golnar Taheri, Eve Racette Email: [email protected] Instagram: @thinktwice_podcast LinkedIN: Think Twice Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ThinkTwicePodcast Disclaimer: Think Twice is a podcast for general information and entertainment purposes only. The content discussed in the episodes does not reflect the views of the podcast committee members or any institution they are affiliated with. The use of the information presented in this podcast is at the user’s own risk and is not intended to replace professional healthcare services.