“Epilepsy Belt” Identified in Southeastern U.S., Study Links Heat, Sleep, and Access to Care to Higher Rates
HOUSTON, TX โค – A new โnational study has revealedโ a concentration ofโ high epilepsy rates across โคseveral southeastern states, leading researchers to dub the region the “epilepsy belt.” The study, recently published and highlighted by Houston Methodist, identified Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas as having some of the highest incidence of epilepsy โขin the United States.
Researchers pinpointed several correlating factorsโ contributing to the elevated rates. insufficient sleep was more prevalent in Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. Southern states also experienced a greater number of daysโ withโ extreme heat – defined as a heat index above 95 degrees – and states like Texas and Florida reported higher rates of uninsurance, particularly among younger adults.โค
“This is the first study documenting โขsuch a strong association betweenโค extremeโ heat and incident epilepsy in older adults across โคthe U.S., highlightingโ the importance of climate change in emergency preparedness, especially given the graying of theโค population,” said siran Koroukian, professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the Case Western โขReserve University Schoolโ of Medicine.
The “epilepsy belt”โข overlapsโ with theโฃ already-identified โ”stroke belt,” โคa region known forโฃ its high stroke rates – another major risk factor for developing epilepsy.โฃ Approximately 3 million American adults are currently living with epilepsy, โaccording to โขthe CDC. While a cure remains elusive for most, the condition isโค often โคeffectively managed through medication, surgery, and trigger management.
Researchers hope the findings will inform public health interventions aimed at epilepsy prevention and mitigation in high-risk โareas. Potential strategies include improving sleep health, increasingโฃ heat resilience, andโ addressing barriers to โhealthcare โaccessโฃ related โto transportationโ and insurance.
