The role of air pollution in epilepsy: a better understanding is needed

Abstract

Social determinants of health, including neighborhood and built environment factors, play a crucial but underexplored role in epilepsy incidences. Among these, air pollution emerges as a potentially-preventable driver of epilepsy and adverse health outcomes. Evidence is accumulating on the effects of air pollution on the brain, especially in stroke and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the specific impact on epilepsy remains underresearched, potentially due to the complexities of studying this condition. The present narrative review addresses a critical knowledge gap by exploring: 1) the role of air pollution in epilepsy epidemiology; 2) the biological mechanisms of air pollution in the brain in the context of epilepsy; and 3) how air pollution affects the management of people living with epilepsy. We outline vital questions and actionable interventions regarding the role of air pollution in epilepsy.

Keywords

Epilepsy - Air Pollution - Particulate Matter - Social Determinants of Health - Epidemiology

Authors' Contributions

Conceptualization: PJ, JSJ, XZ, DD, JWS; Writing – original draft: PJ; Writing – review & editing: PJ, JSJ, XZ,DD, JWS.

Editor-in-Chief: Hélio A. G. Teive.https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2305-1073

Associate Editor: Marina Koutsodontis Machado Alvim.https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6780-0761

^* Members of the SdHIELD Research Group: Prem Jareonsettasin (University College London), John S. Ji (Tsinghua University), Ding Ding (Fudan University), Annalena Lange (University of Bonn), Theodor Rüber (University of Bonn), Rhys H Thomas (Newcastle University), Kathryn Bush (Newcastle University), Owen Pickrell (Swansea University), Jimmy Li (Université de Montréal), Mark Keezer (Université de Montréal), Gagandeep Singh (Dayanand Medical College & Hospital/University College London), and Ley Sander (University College London).

Data Availability Statement

This is a review article, and no new data were generated or analyzed during this study. All data supporting the findings are included in the manuscript, which is based on publicly available literature and sources cited within the review.

Publication History

Received: 12 December 2024

Accepted: 07 March 2025

Article published online:
02 July 2025

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