sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

pathology

Also known as: SUDEP

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

SUDEP, or sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, is a condition thought to occur after a seizure. While the exact cause is not fully understood, scientists suspect that accumulated damage and scarring in cardiac tissue from recurring seizures may interfere with the heart's electrical conduction, potentially leading to SUDEP. This phenomenon affects over 8% of epilepsy patients, typically between the ages of 20 and 30. Genetic factors and abnormalities in heart function have also been identified in families with both inherited epilepsy and SUDEP.12

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epilepsy
Generalized-onset seizures
…linked to a phenomenon called sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which affects more than 8 percent of epilepsy patients and typically occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 30. The cause of SUDEP is not known with certainty. Scientists suspect that accumulated damage and scarring in cardiac…
Read More
…linked to a phenomenon called sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which affects more than 8 percent of epilepsy patients and typically occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 30. The cause of SUDEP is not known with certainty. Scientists suspect that accumulated damage and scarring in cardiac…
Read More