FACES 2014: The Importance of Sleep in Epilepsy Derek Chong, MD
MSc Assistant Professor of Neurology NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy
Center Slide 2 Weird Sleep:Seizure relationship Good sleep tends to
be protective for seizures But In some people, seizures tend to
happen more frequently in sleep Slide 3 Why a seizure today and not
yesterday? Slide 4 Risk of Seizure changes moment to moment Slide 5
What affects this balance? In many people, that balance is
affecting by sleep if you can imagine that if your brain really
wants to sleep, and you are keeping yourself up, your brain needs
to: increase excitation & decrease inhibition to stay alert
Slide 6 Sleep vs. other factors The impact of each factor is
different for each person in some, lack of sleep may be a major
factor Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in others, hormone changes or
caffeine may be most significant - every brain is different You can
improve control if you learn what provokes them & know your own
limits Slide 7 Probably multiple reasons - often happening at the
same time Sleep deprivation Stress, hormones (menstrual cycles) use
of stimulants? use of depressants? Alcohol Changes in medication
levels - missed doses, change in metabolism, drug interactions Why
Seizures Today? Sleep deprivation Slide 8 Sleep is Complicated you
cant just add up the hours different stages of sleep Slide 9
Definition of Sleep Stages of sleep: Stage N1 is drowsiness Stage
N2 is a bit deeper Slow wave (Stage N3) or deep sleep is harder to
wake-up from REM is when most of your dreaming occurs Slide 10
Normal Sleep Hypnogram More REM as sleep continues Slide 11 Slide
12 Sleep Stages Type of Sleep % Sleep for Infant % Sleep for Young
Child % Sleep for Young Adult % Sleep for Elderly Adult Stage 1
