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

πŸ›οΈ National Plan for Epilepsy Act (S. 494): Plain English Summary πŸ›οΈ

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.

  • Effective Ketogenic Diet for Managing GLUT1 Deficiency in Kids – illustration

    Effective Ketogenic Diet for Managing GLUT1 Deficiency in Kids

    This study looked at how well the ketogenic diet works for children with GLUT1 deficiency syndrome… Read more

  • New Auditory Stimulation Improves Sleep and Cognition in Kids with Epilepsy – illustration

    New Auditory Stimulation Improves Sleep and Cognition in Kids with Epilepsy

    Researchers studied a new method to improve sleep in children with epilepsy, focusing on 27 kids… Read more

  • Standardizing Documentation Improves Care in Epilepsy Clinics – illustration

    Standardizing Documentation Improves Care in Epilepsy Clinics

    Researchers studied how to improve and standardize the way doctors document patient information in outpatient epilepsy… Read more

  • Understanding Epilepsy in 8p-Related Genetic Disorders – illustration

    Understanding Epilepsy in 8p-Related Genetic Disorders

    This study looked at epilepsy in patients with 8p-related disorders, which are genetic conditions linked to… Read more

  • Epilepsy Patients Show Increased Sensitivity to Radiation – illustration

    Epilepsy Patients Show Increased Sensitivity to Radiation

    Researchers studied how sensitive people with epilepsy (PWE) are to radiation compared to healthy individuals and… Read more

  • Barriers Delay Access to Epilepsy Surgery in Latin America – illustration

    Barriers Delay Access to Epilepsy Surgery in Latin America

    Researchers studied the barriers to accessing epilepsy surgery in Latin America, focusing on how social and… Read more

  • Wearable Device Improves Seizure Detection in Epilepsy Units – illustration

    Wearable Device Improves Seizure Detection in Epilepsy Units

    This study looked at how well a wrist-worn device called Embrace2 can detect seizures in patients… Read more

  • Vigabatrin Reduces Seizures in Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Patients – illustration

    Vigabatrin Reduces Seizures in Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Patients

    A study was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of vigabatrin, a medication for epilepsy,… Read more

  • Online Sleep Help for Kids with Epilepsy Shows Promise – illustration

    Online Sleep Help for Kids with Epilepsy Shows Promise

    Researchers studied the effects of an online sleep intervention called COSI for parents of children with… 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 β€œwhat 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.