BBC Future article highlights how heatwaves impact people living with Dravet Syndrome

A new BBC Futures article highlights the impact that climate change and increasingly severe heatwaves are having on people living with Dravet Syndrome.

The article features Stephanie Smith, DSUK trustee and mum to Jake, a 13-year-old living with Dravet Syndrome. Like others with the condition, Jake’s seizures are directly triggered by temperature changes, including extreme heat. As well as increasing seizures, high temperatures also affect sleep quality, mood, and cognitive function.

DSUK Medical Advisory Board member, Professor Sanjay Sisodiya is a leading expert on the intersection of climate change and neurological health. His research team has found that during heatwaves, there are significant increases in brain excitability, with some participants experiencing substantially more seizures during extreme heat.

"Increasingly hot summers and heatwaves are adding to the burden of living with this already devastating condition"

Stephanie Smith, Trustee of Dravet Syndrome UK

Professor Sisodiya is continuing to investigate the impacts of climate change on epilepsy through research, surveys, and identifying trends in medical records during heatwaves. He hopes that through better understanding of the consequences of climate change, families can better prepare for extreme temperatures. Simple measures such as keeping out of the sun during the hottest part of the day and circulating air in rooms are recommended to reduce the impact of high ambient temperatures.

This important BBC coverage highlights the urgent need for healthcare professionals and policymakers to understand the additional challenges that climate change brings to families already managing complex neurological conditions. DSUK continues to advocate for greater awareness, research, and support for families living with Dravet Syndrome in an increasingly warming climate.