A new study – which Epilepsy Ireland are pleased to be assisting – is set to evaluate the impact of personalised in-ear sleep technology in adults with epilepsy.
The EPI-SLEEP study is a collaboration between our colleagues in FutureNeuro – the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science – and Ozlo – the company that developed Ozlo Sleepbuds. This technology is worn in a person’s ear and is designed to support more stable, uninterrupted sleep.
Many people with epilepsy and their families will know the importance of a good sleep pattern – given that tiredness and sleep disturbances can be a common seizure trigger. In addition, seizures can often follow circadian rhythms – the body’s 24-hour internal clock, which also governs the sleep–wake cycle. This creates a two-way relationship: disrupted sleep can increase seizure activity, while seizures, medication side effects, and nocturnal seizures can all disrupt a person's ability to have a regular sleep pattern.
The study is being led by Dr. Cristina Reschke, who is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences (SPBS) at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and is a Funded Investigator in Futureneuro. Many of our supporters, volunteers and members will be familiar with Dr. Reschke as she spoke at our 2024 National Conference about circadian rhythms; where she was joined by her colleague Dr. Melissa Alves Braga de Oliveira, who spoke about the importance of good sleep hygiene for people with epilepsy. You can watch their contributions by visiting the ‘Epilepsy Ireland National Conference 2024’ page on our website.
Dr. Reschke was also the academic supervisor on an Epilepsy-Ireland funded study investigating circadian rhythms in Dravet Syndrome – a severe, medication resistant form of epilepsy. You can read more about this project by vising the ‘Research’ section of our website.
Speaking about this new study, Dr. Reschke said “Many people living with epilepsy struggle not only with seizures, but with poor sleep and fatigue that affect every aspect of daily life. We know that sleep and seizure activity are closely linked, yet sleep is rarely addressed in a structured way in clinical care. Through this study, we want to better understand that relationship and explore practical, accessible ways to improve sleep, and ultimately quality of life, beyond medication alone.”
Epilepsy Ireland will be assisting the study by disseminating requests for study participants. This will take place later this year when we will provide further information about eligibility criteria on our website and social media channels. We look forward to working with Dr. Reschke and the wider EPI-SLEEP study team in the weeks and months ahead. We would like to wish them well with their work on this study in the meantime – something we know will be of interest to many people with epilepsy and their families.
You can find out more about the study by visiting the ‘FutureNeuro’ website.
Should you require any further information or support on your or your loved one’s journey with epilepsy, please do not hesitate to contact your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the ‘Our Local Services’ section of our website.