Epilepsy is a defined neurological disorder characterized by a chronic history of recurrent seizures, cognitive impairment (unusual behavior), and loss of awareness. Even though the prevalence of epilepsy is quite high, fortunately, the mortality rate of epilepsy is not too scary.
According to WHO, around 50 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with epilepsy. Most of them belong to the Lower-middle Income Countries with few resources for early diagnosis and treatment.
Seizures refer to uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the group of brain cells. This, in turn, leads to behavioral changes, uncontrolled body movements, muscle jerks, loss of consciousness, anxiety, and depression. Sometimes, the seizures are completely silent, and at times they are “tonic-clonic” as seen in epilepsy.
If go unnoticed, repetitive seizures for a long time can even result in death. However, with advancing technologies, scientists have invented a seizure-detection device that can sense changes in the normal body pattern and signal an alarm before things go wrong.
What is a seizure detecting device? How does it work? Let’s dig deeper!
What is a Seizure-detection Device?
Epilepsy seizures are unpredictable. A device that can detect them earlier with still some room for early management sounds like a pleasant dream. Well, it’s all real!
A seizure-detection device, as the name suggests, is a futuristic option available that senses and monitors an abnormal development in the brain’s electrical activity. Several types of research have been conducted to prove its effectiveness on the human body, and the device did not disappoint.
People with epilepsy are dependent upon their caregivers during the episodes of seizures as they have no control over their bodies. Therefore, epileptic patients and their caregivers often live with a fear of not knowing the occurrence of an epileptic episode. The sensor-device works like a charm for such people!
Hence, it is important for patients with epilepsy, caregivers, and doctors to be aware of the available options that can potentially reduce the risk of epilepsy-related deaths.
How does Seizure-detection Device Work?
The seizure-detection device comes in various shapes. Different types of seizure-detection devices or monitors exist. From smart watches to mobile phones, all the easily accessible technologies have a well-developed system to detect epilepsy seizures.
These devices have a sensor in them that detects the changes in body movement and behavior. Once the monitoring device detects an abnormality, it sends signals to the connecting IOS or android device that automatically sends an emergency call to the caregivers.
Similarly, some devices have an alarm system installed within, in which an alarm goes off if the device senses an unusual pattern.
A video/audio recording device has also been invented that monitors the patient’s sleeping style throughout the night and alerts the caregivers when things go wrong.
Due to the affordability and availability barriers in certain regions, not many patients have access to these seizure-detection devices. Hence, not all epileptic patients have been tested with it, and there is a scarcity of data.
More research is still needed to improve the accuracy of these seizure-sensing devices.
Benefits of Seizure-detection Devices in Epileptic Patients
Believe it or not but seizure-detection devices have been doing rounds, mostly in the developed part of the world.
There is no such research that tells about the device’s effectiveness in improving mortality and morbidity. However, studies suggest that these seizure-detection devices can potentially reduce the risks associated with seizures and epilepsy.
Following are the reported benefits of Seizure-detection devices in epileptic patients, so far:
- Easy accessibility (a handy tool for both patients and caregivers)
- Reduced risk of severe consequences related to epilepsy
- Alerting caregivers immediately so they can intervene on time
- Reduced epilepsy-related anxiety in patients with epilepsy
- It helps in keeping a track of seizures
- It can potentially decrease the risk of mortality and morbidity
- May provide a better Health-related quality of life
It truly depends on the willingness of patients to wear the device. Some patients find it uncomfortable to wear the devices all day long hence, they do not cooperate much. This can certainly affect the research results.
Note: Ask your physician whether you can wear these seizure-detection devices or not. Your doctor would advise you better!
Sum Up
Epilepsy is common in both men and women. In fact, anyone in any age group is prone to develop seizures. Through research, seizure-detection devices were proven more effective in the younger population. However, if the availability of these devices is improved, if the cost is more people-friendly, and if the patients are more compliant with wearing the devices for a longer period, the results will be more effective.
REFERENCES:
- Beghi E. (2020). The Epidemiology of Epilepsy. Neuroepidemiology, 54(2), 185–191. https://doi.org/10.1159/000503831
- Zhao, X., & Lhatoo, S. D. (2018). Seizure detection: do current devices work? And when can they be useful? Current neurology and neuroscience reports, 18(7), 40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-018-0849-z
- Chiang, S., Moss, R., Patel, A. D., & Rao, V. R. (2020). Seizure detection devices and health-related quality of life: A patient- and caregiver-centered evaluation. Epilepsy & behavior: E&B, 105, 106963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106963
- Bruno, E., Simblett, S., Lang, A., Biondi, A., Odoi, C., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Wykes, T., Richardson, M. P., & RADAR-CNS Consortium (2018). Wearable technology in epilepsy: The views of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Epilepsy & behavior: E&B, 85, 141–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.05.044
- Shum, J., & Friedman, D. (2021). Commercially available seizure detection devices: A systematic review. Journal of the neurological sciences, 428, 117611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.117611