Tech & Innovation in Healthcare

Question: I have several patients who suffer from epilepsy in one form or another. Upon an initial diagnosis, the parents usually ask me what signs to look out for before a seizure onsets.

With smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other smart devices, could technology provide a solution?

Colorado Subscriber

Answer: Researchers are exploring the use of electronic devices to predict when a seizure will start, so a solution may be not too far away.

In a preliminary study published in the November 2021 issue of Scientific Reports, researchers found that wrist-worn research-grade physiological sensor devices predicted the onset of seizures accurately. The study recruited patients with medically refractory seizures, and the patients were instructed to wear the device during normal daily activities.

Researchers uncovered patterns in patients who wore the devices for six to 12 months, and on average, the devices provided a 30-minute warning of when a seizure would begin. The researchers also found that five of six patients received more accurate seizure predictions than a random predictor.

In addition to forecasting seizures, the devices also captured accelerometry data, body temperature, blood flow, heart rate, and information about electrical characteristics of wearer’s skin. The study was performed to evaluate the possibility of a noninvasive way to predict seizure onset.

“Reliable seizure forecasts could potentially allow people living with recurrent seizures to modify their activities, take a fast-acting medication, or increase neuromodulation therapy to prevent or manage impending seizures,” wrote the authors of the study.