Epilepsy research summaries in plain English

Epilepsy Explained turns new epilepsy research into clear, practical takeaways for parents, caregivers, and people living with epilepsy. You will find short summaries of real studies, plus topic hubs that help you learn without getting lost in jargon.

Important: Epilepsy Policy & Research

🏛️ National Plan for Epilepsy Act (S. 494): Plain English Summary 🏛️

A clear, caregiver-friendly explanation of a bipartisan bill designed to improve epilepsy research, care coordination, and long-term outcomes in the United States.

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Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Learn about drug-resistant epilepsy, which is when seizures aren’t controlled after trying two prescribed medicines, leading to alternative treatments.

Comorbidities

Learn about epilepsy comorbidities, which include other conditions that often show up with seizure disorders, like anxiety, ADHD, sleep issues, depression, and autism.

Status Epilepticus

Learn about status epilepticus, which is when a seizure doesn’t stop, or seizures happen so closely together without recovery in between.

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Explore the full list of topic hubs to find what matches what you are dealing with right now.

Latest Epilepsy Research Summaries

New summaries are added regularly. Each post explains what the study asked, what researchers found, and what it may mean for real life decisions.

  • New Tool Helps Doctors Choose Better Epilepsy Medications – illustration

    New Tool Helps Doctors Choose Better Epilepsy Medications

    This study looked at a new online tool called EPstat, which provides doctors with real-world data… Read more

  • Educating Caregivers About Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy – illustration

    Educating Caregivers About Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

    Researchers studied how well patients with epilepsy and their caregivers understand Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy… Read more

  • Young Stroke Patients Face Higher Risk of Post-Stroke Epilepsy – illustration

    Young Stroke Patients Face Higher Risk of Post-Stroke Epilepsy

    This study looked at the risk factors for developing post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) in children who have… Read more

  • New Surgical Methods Improve Treatment for Moyamoya Disease – illustration

    New Surgical Methods Improve Treatment for Moyamoya Disease

    This study focused on adults with moyamoya disease (MMD), a condition that causes narrowing of blood… Read more

  • New Measure Balances Seizure Control and Quality of Life – illustration

    New Measure Balances Seizure Control and Quality of Life

    This study focused on a new way to measure the effectiveness of epilepsy treatments, specifically looking… Read more

  • Ketogenic Diet May Improve Seizure Control in Epilepsy – illustration

    Ketogenic Diet May Improve Seizure Control in Epilepsy

    Researchers studied how the ketogenic diet (KD) affects the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in people with drug-resistant… Read more

  • Rare Gene Mutation Linked to Unusual Movement Disorder in Infants – illustration

    Rare Gene Mutation Linked to Unusual Movement Disorder in Infants

    Researchers studied a patient with unusual movement problems linked to a change in the PRRT2 gene. Read more

  • Cenobamate Outperforms Other Medications for Focal Epilepsy – illustration

    Cenobamate Outperforms Other Medications for Focal Epilepsy

    This study looked at how effective and safe four different medications—brivaracetam, cenobamate, lacosamide, and perampanel—are for… Read more

  • New Hope for Neuropsychiatric Disorders with eTNS Therapy – illustration

    New Hope for Neuropsychiatric Disorders with eTNS Therapy

    Researchers studied a technique called external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) to see how it might help… Read more

View All Recent Summaries

Epilepsy Explained FAQ

What is Epilepsy Explained?

Epilepsy Explained is a website with epilepsy research summaries in plain English. We read studies about seizures, epilepsy care, safety, tests, and treatments, then translate the findings into clear takeaways you can actually use.

Who is this site for?

This site is for parents and caregivers, teens and adults living with epilepsy, and anyone trying to understand seizures and epilepsy care without medical jargon.

Is this medical advice?

No. This site is educational and cannot replace medical care. Always talk with your neurologist or epilepsy specialist about diagnosis, treatment changes, or urgent symptoms.

How do you choose which studies to summarize?

We focus on studies that answer common real life questions about seizures and epilepsy. We prioritize topics like safety, medications, tests such as EEG and MRI, seizure triggers, sleep, quality of life, and what helps families day to day.

What does a typical research summary include?

Most summaries explain what the study asked, who was included, what researchers measured, what they found, and the main limitations. We also add a “what this may mean for you” section with practical, careful takeaways.

How often is Epilepsy Explained updated?

New epilepsy research summaries are added on a regular schedule. The easiest way to stay updated is to join the newsletter.

Can I trust the information on this site?

We base our summaries on published research and aim to describe findings accurately and clearly. Research can be complex, and no single study should guide a major decision by itself. Use the summaries to learn and to prepare better questions for your clinician.

What epilepsy topics does the site cover?

We cover major epilepsy topics such as pediatrics, genetics, drug resistant epilepsy, SUDEP, status epilepticus, safety and first aid, imaging and EEG, devices and neuromodulation, ketogenic diet, pregnancy, lifestyle and sleep, and common comorbidities.

How can I use this site if I am newly diagnosed?

Start with the topic hubs and the safety pages. Then read a few recent summaries that match your situation, such as pediatric epilepsy, medication options, or EEG results. Bring your questions to your clinician so you can make decisions with context.

Can I suggest a topic or a question you should cover?

Yes. If there is a question you keep running into, you can send it through the newsletter page or contact option. We use suggestions to plan new topic guides and future evidence overviews.