03/13/2026
Sleep is often called the brain’s “reset button.” But new research suggests sleep may also play a role in reinforcing seizures in people with focal epilepsy.
A recent Mayo Clinic study, published in the Society for Neuroscience's journal, found that after a seizure, the brain can enter long periods of deep non-REM sleep with strong, slow brain waves in the same regions where seizures start. These waves normally help the brain store memories, meaning the brain may unintentionally “strengthen” seizure pathways in a similar way.
Researchers also observed more deep sleep and less REM sleep after seizures. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is the stage of sleep when dreaming typically occurs and when the brain is highly active while the body remains relaxed. Changes in REM sleep may help explain why sleep disturbances are common in epilepsy.
Importantly, the findings point to a potential window for treatment, the hours immediately following a seizure and the night of sleep that follows. Targeting brain activity during this period could help prevent seizure networks from becoming stronger and potentially slow the worsening of epilepsy.
On World Sleep Day, it’s a reminder that sleep plays a critical role in brain health and that understanding what happens in the brain during sleep could open new possibilities for epilepsy research and treatment.
Read an article on the study here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4bFRi4W