Epilepsy affects more than three million Americans with some 500 new cases diagnosed every day according to the Epilepsy Foundation www.epilepsy.com. Today, apps are being developed to detect and chart seizures.
Epilepsies are a spectrum of brain disorders can range from severe, life-threatening, disabling, but also can be much more benign. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity and can lead to seizures.
In October, researchers at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) introduced EpiWatch www.hopkins.medicine.org/epiwatch#VllPHarSm-8. The development of the watch involved developing an app designed to collect data from patients with epilepsy before, during, and after their seizures. Specifically, users of the app are able to share data with researchers, track seizures, daily medications, track possible drug side effects, and compare results with other patients.
According to Gregory Krauss, Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, “EpiWatch collects data that helps researchers better understand epilepsy while helping patients keep a more complete history of their seizures.”
EpiWatch is appropriate for patients with epilepsy who may experience an “aura” that signals an oncoming seizure. When the warning symptom occurs, the user or caregiver can tap an icon on the watch face to activate the app. At this point, the app starts recording heart rate and movements.
JHU researchers are collecting information from participants with epilepsy to explore how EpiWatch could be developed to detect seizures and whether a future app could potentially not only detect seizures but estimate their duration and then contact caregivers, all using Apple Watch.