Epilepsy and sleep

Abstract

More than a century of clinical research and practice has shown crucial relationships between epilepsy and sleep. Here, we discuss some of the best accepted and also most intriguing observations on the complex bidirectional relationships between sleep and epilepsy. These include: (1) sleep-related epilepsies; (2) differentiating sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) from NREM disorders of arousal (DoA); (3) sleep organization (micro and macro sleep architecture) in epilepsy; (4) sleep/wake complaints and sleep disorders in people with epilepsy; (5) impact of sleep apnea treatment on epilepsy; (6) emerging relationships between epilepsy and circadian biology; and (7) relationships between sleep and sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Recognizing the relationships between epilepsy and sleep are important for patient and caregiver education and counseling, and optimizing both epilepsy and sleep outcomes.