This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The purpose of the study is to determine whether treating sleep-related breathing disorders in adults with epilepsy results in improvement in seizure control (fewer seizures). We also want to determine if the treatment will improve alertness and sleepiness during the day. Preliminary studies of epilepsy patients diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea at the University of Michigan and elsewhere showed that most of these patients experienced a reduction in seizures, an improvement in daytime alertness, or both. In this study, adults with epilepsy will be given a questionnaire to identify those likely to have a sleep-related breathing disorder. This questionnaire has been shown in previous studies to predict a sleep-related breathing disorder with a high degree of accuracy. Those answering questions indicating that a sleep-related breathing disorder might be present and who otherwise meet study criteria will be invited to have a medical evaluation for a sleep-related breathing disorder. If sleep apnea is confirmed during the medical evaluation, the subject will be invited to enroll in the follow-up portion of the study that includes polysomnography, which is a specialized overnight sleep study, and daytime testing of alertness. The follow-up study will monitor subjects to determine if seizure control or daytime alertness improves with treatment of the sleep-related breathing disorder. Subjects will keep seizure calendars and complete surveys regarding sleepiness before and during treatment, and seizure frequency and daytime sleepiness before and after four months of treatment will be compared.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 1380 publications
