The updated seizure terminology aims to make life easier for everyone both affected by focal seizures and those involved in epilepsy care. In this episode, Prof. Sándor Beniczky breaks down why "consciousness" is now the key term used to describe focal seizures, and how it imporves clarity, consistency, and global usability - benefiting those with with an epilepsy, carers, GPs/physicians, nurses, and specialists alike.

We discuss…

• why focal "awareness” has been retired
• what "consciousness" means during a seizure
• the difference between responsiveness and recall
• why the number of seizure types has been reduced
• how the update strengthens communication at all levels of care
• what these changes mean for real clinical practise
• how shared language supports better decision-making

🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻

https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/focal-consciousness-seizures-explained

🌐 More about Sándor 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/sandor-beniczky

📖 Paper spoken of 👇🏻 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/epi.18338

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🔗 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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Prof. Nicola Specchio shares insights into how regional and global collaboration can strengthen epilepsy care, highlighting the need for coordinated systems, improved pathways and fairer access to expertise. The episode also examines the impact of emerging scientific developments and how shared standards across countries could support better long-term outcomes for people living with an epilepsy.

We discuss: • Diagnostic delays and treatment access • Priorities for ILAE Europe • Cross-border collaboration • Networks for rare epilepsies • Precision medicine and biomarkers • Neuroimaging developments • Earlier intervention and improved outcomes

Check out:

🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/global-epilepsy-care-challenges-opportunities

🌐 More about Nicola 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights-guests-/nicola-specichio

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🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎧 Watch the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on YouTube 👇🏻 https://www.youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

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The epilepsies are a complex neurological disease, and patients, families, and clinicians all deserve clear, empowering information! Torie Robinson sits down with nurse, writer Cheryl Tveit and paediatric neurologist/epileptologist writer Dr. Charbel El Kosseifi. from Gillette Children’s Hospital to discuss their new Mac Keith Press book: “Epilepsy”. They explain how they simplified the science for everyone, highlighting crucial topics often ignored in clinic-like morbidities, driving, and the vital need for reassurance. An empowering publication!

We discuss:

• How the new Gillette Children's Hospital & Mac Keith Press book makes complex epilepsy science accessible for everyone

• The importance of plain language - not patronising, just clear

• The book's value for med students, residents, and practicing physicians

• Quality of life beyond seizures - school, work, relationships & mental health

• Cognition, anxiety, and other common comorbidities

• Writing with empathy and the voice of families

• Why collaboration between patients, clinicians, and educators matters

🔗 More about episode 👇🏻

https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/epilepsy-book-full-life-guide

👤👤 More about Cheryl & Charbel 👇🏻

Cheryl https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/cheryl-tveit

Charbel https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/charbel-el-kosseifi

📘 Get the book "Epilepsy" (Mac Keith Press) with 20% off 👇🏻

https://www.mackeith.co.uk/book/epilepsy - code: epilepsysparks20

👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻

https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻

https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎧 Watch the video-podcast 👇🏻

https://youtu.be/bHhtMfNxErw

📒 Glossary 👇🏻

https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

This chat delves into the intricate relationship between the blood-brain barrier and epilepsy - particularly temporal lobe epilepsy! Claire, Chris, and Torie highlight the dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier in people with an epilepsy, the role of imaging techniques in assessing this dysfunction, and the outcomes of surgical interventions. Excitingly, Claire and Chris also explore future research directions aimed at targeting the blood-brain barrier to improve treatment outcomes!

🌐 More about the episode 👇🏻

https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/claire-behan-chris-greene-blood-brain-barrier-temporal-lobe-epilepsy-neurosurgery

🌐 More about Claire https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/claire-behan

🌐 More about Chris https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/chris-greene

👕 Check out our cool merch 👇🏻

https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻

https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎧 Listen to the podcast 👇🏻

https://epilepsysparksinsights.podbean.com

🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

📲 Join us on social media!

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks

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Around 20–30% of people with an epilepsy don’t respond well to anti-seizure medications - so what happens next? Dr. Ricardo Morcos (UCLH) joins host Torie Robinson to explain the epilepsy surgery journey: how people are assessed, what tests are involved, and how teams make decisions together.

We discuss:

• The “tube map”(!) that helps explain this complex process

• Why surgery isn’t talked about enough

• Common myths & fears

• What to expect from surgery & recovery

• How neuromodulation, new medications & trials also fit in

This empowering conversation is for anyone affected by the epilepsies - patients, carers, and clinicians alike! Check out:

🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/ricardo-morcos-epilepsy-surgery-journey

🌐 More about Ricardo 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/ricardo-morcos

👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎞️ Watch the Epilepsy Sparks Insights podcast on YouTube 👇🏻 https://youtu.be/QzIoLlRG1Lw

📲 Join us on social media!

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks

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- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks

- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks

- TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks

We discuss:

• Why epilepsy is up to four times more common in prison populations

• The role of traumatic brain injuries, substance use & mental health

• Barriers to accessing epilepsy specialists behind bars

• Misuse, mistiming, & under-optimisation of anti-seizure medications

• The continued use of rectal diazepam and lack of rescue treatment awareness

• Increased SUDEP risks for people with epilepsy in prisons

• How NICE guidelines should be improving care - but often aren’t

• What needs to change to ensure prisoners get the epilepsy care they are entitled to

🔗 More about episode 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/karen-mcleod-uk-prisons

More about Karen McLeod 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/karen-mcleod

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🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch the video 👇🏻 https://youtu.be/2yKOxliR1pY

🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

📲 Connect with us Website https://www.epilepsysparks.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks

The ILAE Academy is changing how clinicians and researchers learn about the epilepsies! Prof. Gagandeep Singh, Chair of the ILAE Education Council, joins Torie to explain how this innovative, self-paced, and structured platform is helping to shape the next generation of epilepsy specialists!

We discuss:

• What the ILAE Academy is and who it’s for
• How it keeps up with new discoveries
• Why accessibility and affordability matter
• The future of interactive, AI-based learning

🔗 More about episode (inc. transcription) 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/gagandeep-singh-ilae-academy

🤩 More about Gagandeep 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/gagandeep-singh

🎓 The ILAE Academy

https://ilae-academy.totaratalent.com

👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎞️ Watch episode on YouTube 👇🏻

https://youtu.be/PrYZyKrb4Ec

🔤 Learn key terms related to the epilepsies and neuroscience here 👇🏻

https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

📲 Connect with us! 👇🏻

Website https://www.epilepsysparks.com

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How much do carers really contribute to epilepsy care, & why are their struggles so often invisible? 💜

Dr. Florien Boele, a researcher in psychosocial oncology & caregiving, talks about the essential but often overlooked role of unpaid carers for adults with epilepsy.

Florien talks with Torie about:

• Who carers are
• The staggering £184 billion value that carers add to the UK economy
• The personal costs of caregiving - sleep, stress, health, finances & relationships
• Why epilepsy research rarely includes carers (compared with other diseases)
• The importance of measuring carer outcomes through core outcome sets
• Florien’s study to define what truly matters most to carers

👉🏻 Tune in to hear how research is beginning to highlight carers’ voices & why supporting them means supporting people with epilepsy too.

🔗 More about episode 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/florien-boele-quality-of-life-carers-epilepsy

🤩 More about Florien 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/guests/florien-boele

👕 Join the Epilepsy Sparks community with our merch 👇🏻 https://epilepsy-sparks.creator-spring.com

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights 👇🏻 https://www.torierobinson.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎧 Watch episode on YouTube 👇🏻 https://www.youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand all the terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary! 👇🏻 https://www.epilepsysparks.com/glossary

📲 Connect with us 👇🏻

• Website https://www.epilepsysparks.com
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epilepsy-sparks
• Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/epilepsysparks.bsky.social
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epilepsysparks
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/epilepsysparks
• TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epilepsysparks