You are here:

Climate Change research

Published on

Updated:

Further research into climate change and epilepsy

Red haired person taking a sample from a stream

The need for research

"Until now there has been little connection made between climate change and epilepsy, with the dangers of climate change for people with epilepsy receiving little attention in neurology. We can expect that unpredictable environments, rapid changes in circumstances, and disruptions to supply chains will have major impacts on medical practice: therefore, research into climate change on epilepsy should be high on the agenda."

Professor Sanjay Sisodiya, Director of Genomic Research and founding member of Epilepsy Climate Change (EPICC)

Carbon emission savings and short-term health care impacts from telemedicine: An evaluation in epilepsy

Map image
In this piece of research, we looked at the savings in carbon emissions resulting from clinic appointments having to become virtual during the early part of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. The map shows where people would normally have come from across the UK to visit our clinics at Chalfont (the green dot).

The more red the colour of the region, the larger the number of people with epilepsy who would have come to Chalfont for their appointment, had the lockdown not been present. We calculated that over a 6 month period, these journeys that did not take place saved an amount of carbon emissions equivalent to driving around the Equator of the Earth over 5 times, without marked adverse outcomes for epilepsy care, at least over the short term.

These findings show the contribution the healthcare can make to greenhouse gas emissions, and will hopefully help us structure our clinics better, to provide the best care whilst trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The full reference for this work is: Carbon emission savings and short-term health care impacts from telemedicine: An evaluation in epilepsy (opens in PDF). The map is reproduced from this work under the CC-BY creative commons licence.

 

It’s time to take action

Become a member with us at EPICC and take action against climate change today.

Your details

Would you like to be part of epilepsyclimatechange?
Do you agree to abide by the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding? Entering yes will be taken to mean you agree to adhere by the conditions of the MoU.

By filling out this form you acknowledge that you may be contacted by Epilepsy Society so that we can deliver the necessary administration needed to support you and you agree to having your contact details held for purposes related to epilepsyclimatechange only.

If you do not wish to be contacted you can opt-out of our marketing communications by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link at the end of our marketing emails or by calling  01494 601 300 or by emailing donor.support@epilepsysociety.org.uk. For more information please read our privacy policy.
 

Footnotes:
EpiCC, Epilepsy Climate Change

References:
1. Sisodiya SM et al. Epilepsia Open 2019; 4:524–536.
2. World Health Organization. COP24 special report: health and climate change. Geneva: World Health Organization 2018.
Available at: http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/276405 (Accessed July 2021).
3. Sisodiya SM et al. Epilepsia Open 2019; 4:524–536.
4. Seizures and Hot summers 10-08-20
5. Frucht MM et al. Epilepsia 2000; 41:1534-1539.
6. Rifkin DI et al. Sleep Med Rev. 2018; 42:3-9.
7. Gulcebi MI et al. Epilepsy & Behaviour 2021; 116, doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.107791.

LET'S STAY IN TOUCH...

We send monthly e-newsletters to keep you informed with tips for managing epilepsy, the latest news, inspirational stories, fundraising opportunities and further information from Epilepsy Society.

Read our privacy policy

It is always your choice as to whether you want to receive information from us. You may opt-out of our marketing communications by clicking the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the end of our marketing emails or through our unsubscribe number 01494 601 300.