Dallas scientists are unraveling cause behind sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

The University of Cincinnati's Michael Privitera spoke with the Dallas Morning News on a new Southern Methodist University study that sheds new light on what might be happening in the brain when sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) occurs.

SUDEP is rare but results in an estimated 3,000 deaths per year.

“People can have SUDEP at any age,” said Privitera, MD, professor and division chief for epilepsy in UC's College of Medicine and a UC Health physician. He added that risk factors include uncontrolled seizures and poor adherence to medication, or when people aren’t taking their medicine as prescribed.

The study published in the journal Brain Communications identified neurons in the brain's corticolimbic system — made up of regions that govern everything from emotions to heart rate — that underlie SUDEP. When these neurons lacked a protein regulating electrical activity, called Kv1.1, mice had seizures and problems with breath and heart function. 

Privitera, who was not involved in the study, said these findings stand out because they get to the root of SUDEP, at least for one type of rare genetic mutation responsible for epilepsy.

Read the Dallas Morning News article, which was also published on MSN.

Featured photo at top of Michael Privitera, MD, speaking with a patient. Photo courtesy of UC Health.