Circadian and circaseptan rhythms in human epilepsy: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Epilepsy has long been suspected to be governed by cyclic rhythms, with seizure rates rising and falling periodically over weeks, months, or even years. The very long scales of seizure patterns seem to defy natural explanation and have sometimes been attributed to hormonal cycles or environmental factors. This study aimed to quantify the strength and prevalence of seizure cycles at multiple temporal scales across a large cohort of people with epilepsy.

Authors

Philippa J Karoly ME, Daniel M Goldenholz MD, Dean R Freestone PhD, Robert E Moss Bf, David B Grayden PhD, William H Theodore MD, Mark J Cook MD

Published on November 2018

The Lancet Neurology

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Cycles of seizures can be identified from EEG and seizure diaries. These cycles can be daily, multi-day or even seasonal in duration. This research forms the basis for understanding seizures as non-random events that can be forecast.

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