Can newer epilepsy treatments help more people achieve seizure control - and does it matter when they're introduced? Epileptologist Vicente Villanueva shares with us findings from two studies investigating cenobamate and fenfluramine. He explains why earlier treatment may improve outcomes, how medication combinations and side effects affect quality of life, and what the research reveals about cognition, behaviour and sleep.

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:09 Meet Vicente Villanueva
01:20 How epilepsy treatments have changed
02:41 Why does drug-resistant epilepsy remain so difficult to treat?
04:17 The FREEDON study: Why earlier cenobamate treatment matters
05:45 Why do previous treatment failures predict poorer outcomes?
07:50 Fenfluramine for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs)
09:12 Balancing seizure control and side effects
10:14 Cognition, behaviour and quality of life
11:00 Managing cenobamate side effects
12:13 Finding the right combination of treatments
14:45 The future: Treatments that change the course of epilepsy
14:53 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript
https://www.epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/dre-cenobamate-fenfluramine-dravet-lgs

🌐 More about Vicente https://epilepsysparks.com/guests/vicente-villanueva

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights https://epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎧 Listen on podcast https://share.transistor.fm/s/0980b685

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

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Can fewer seizures sometimes come at the expense of quality of life? Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (ESN) Matilda Modigh goes into the challenges of living with drug-resistant epilepsy, surprising, positive findings about children's experiences of long-term video EEG monitoring (they appreciated it!), and the balance between seizure control, medication side effects and wellbeing. Discover how ESNs support independence, safety, mental health, and quality of life.
This episode is sponsored by the Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Course organised by the Spanish Epilepsy Society - supporting education and public understanding of epilepsy: https://2026.drugsresistantepilepsy.com

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
00:54 Meet Matilda Modigh
01:38 Life beyond seizures: sleep, behaviour & wellbeing
04:34 Epilepsy, education & child development
05:22 Long-term video EEG monitoring
07:24 Surprising findings: what children really thought
08:49 Quality of life beyond seizure control
09:38 Living with epilepsy: independence & everyday life
11:33 Transitioning from paediatric to adult epilepsy care
13:20 Epilepsy safety, mental health & support
14:58 Fewer seizures, but at what cost?
17:22 The importance of consistent epilepsy nursing care
19:17 Listening to people's emotional needs
21:11 Supporting independence in young people
22:09 Improving quality of life with uncontrolled seizures
23:17 Closing thoughts & thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/epilepsy-nurse-eeg-seizure-control

🌐 More about Matilda epilepsysparks.com/guests/matilda-modigh

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtu.be/IzwsZyJDRdg

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

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What if we could diagnose epilepsy before the first seizure, offer surgery much earlier, or treat the underlying causes rather than just control seizures? And could better organisation and AI improve epilepsy care worldwide? Hear from leading epileptologist Dr José Serratosa as we explore the causes of epilepsy, advances in surgery, genetics and precision medicine, and what the future could hold!
This episode is sponsored by the Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Course organised by the Spanish Epilepsy Society - supporting education and public understanding of epilepsy: https://2026.drugsresistantepilepsy.com

Chapters 📖
00:00 Trailer & intro
01:34 Meet José Serratosa
03:29 Why epilepsy is not a single disease
05:26 Epilepsy at different ages
06:14 The many causes of epilepsy
08:07 Why epilepsy rates differ around the world
10:08 Improving access to epilepsy diagnosis and care
14:23 Public awareness and education about epilepsy
18:18 Improving epilepsy education for clinicians
19:39 Access to epilepsy surgery and delays
21:15 Advances in epilepsy surgery - operating earlier
26:48 Genetics and precision medicine in epilepsy
30:08 Understanding the multiple causes of epilepsy
32:38 The future of epilepsy treatment and prevention
36:11 How AI could improve epilepsy care
40:10 Closing thoughts and thanks

27:37 Closing thoughts and thanks

🔗 Episode page and transcript epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights/causes-of-epilepsy-treatment-prevention

🌐 More about José epilepsysparks.com/guests/jose-serratosa

🌐 More Epilepsy Sparks Insights epilepsysparks.com/epilepsy-sparks-insights

🎥 Watch on YouTube youtube.com/@EpilepsySparksInsights

🔤 Don’t understand terms used? Check out the Epilepsy Sparks Glossary epilepsysparks.com/glossary

📲 Join us on social media!
〰️ LinkedIn epilepsy-sparks
〰️ Instagram epilepsysparks
〰️ Facebook epilepsysparks
〰️ TikTok epilepsysparks
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