Major epilepsy research event happening in Liverpool today

Leading researchers are coming together to tackle issues of epilepsy in Liverpool, hosting a major event with the hopes of raising awareness for those suffering.

The event will focus particularly on late-onset epilepsy, which is epilepsy that starts later on in life. The event will cover the causes of the condition and the challenges in getting a diagnosis.

Late-onset epilepsy often starts after a stroke or with dementia. Other causes can be brain injuries or tumours. Those over 60 have the highest rate of new-onset.

As MerseyNewsLive has previously reported, Liverpool is known for its epilepsy research. Offering some of the best facilities available, including the Walton Centre, which is known for its multitude of services.

Today, the Epilepsy Research Institute is set to host a major research event at the Atlantic Tower Hotel in Liverpool to continue raising awareness.

Chief Executive of the Epilepsy Research Institute, Rosemarie Pardington, said the event “brings together researchers from across the field to explore the key challenges, from understanding causes and improving diagnosis to identifying new opportunities for treatment.”

She said that they aim to “have strengthened partnerships, identified priority areas for future research, and taken meaningful steps towards improving outcomes for people developing epilepsy later in life.”

Epilepsy can majorly affect everyday activities, and vital research continues to help make it more bearable.

Suffering from the condition herself, Jane Hill, told us how it has affected her, explaining that before her medication, “it [epilepsy] controlled my daily life with memory problems, headaches and small absent seizures.”

Her time at school difficult, as teachers and fellow pupils often didn’t understand her condition.

She also told us the importance of research: “I think for research is to give people a better understanding of the condition and maybe further treatments and medication, especially to help individuals with further seizures.”

The researchers attending are all at different points in their careers. It is hoped that this will be particularly beneficial for early-career researchers, offering an opportunity to network and learn from those well-established in the field.