Increasing awareness of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Epilepsy affects about 1 in 130 people in the UK and most have a normal life expectancy. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a - probably heterogeneous - condition where patients with epilepsy die suddenly, almost certainly during a seizure and with no other identified cause of death. The mechanism(s) of SUDEP remain uncertain, but with a growing international scientific interest, there is reason to be optimistic that eventually most of the likely several causes will be identified. Increasing awareness of SUDEP has generated efforts to understand the underlying pathophysiology of SUDEP better to direct the search for effective preventative measures. This review addresses the epidemiology of SUDEP, its possible underlying mechanisms, risk factors, clinical implications and future directions for research.