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The Relationship Between Sleep, Epilepsy, and Development: a Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review the relationship between sleep, neurodevelopment, and epilepsy and potential underlying physiological mechanisms.

Recent Findings

Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the role of sleep in early brain development and epilepsy. Epileptogenesis has been proposed to occur when there is a failure of normal adaptive processes of synaptic and homeostatic plasticity. This sleep-dependent transformation may explain the cognitive impairment seen in epilepsy, especially when occurring early in life. The glymphatic system, a recently discovered waste clearance system of the central nervous system, has been described as a potential mechanism underlying the relationship between sleep and seizures and may account for the common association between sleep deprivation and increased seizure risk.

Summary

Epilepsy and associated sleep disturbances can critically affect brain development and neurocognition. Here we highlight recent findings on this topic and emphasize the importance of screening for sleep concerns in people with epilepsy.

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  1. Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, 2001 Marcus Ave, Suite W290, New Hyde Park, NY, 11042, USA

    Annie H. Roliz & Sanjeev Kothare

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  1. Annie H. Roliz
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Roliz, A.H., Kothare, S. The Relationship Between Sleep, Epilepsy, and Development: a Review. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 23, 469–477 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-023-01284-0

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