The SUDEP Movement: From Inception to the Goal

Before 1980, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) was rarely reported. Then researchers began highlighting its importance. Over the next decade, medical interest in SUDEP increased steadily. However, it took the advocacy of dedicated family and friends who had lost loved ones to SUDEP to bring it into the consciousness of the medical communities and the public.

It has been 10 years since the start of an ongoing and growing collaboration between epilepsy organizations and government agencies in the effort to stop SUDEP. In the 14th Judith Hoyer Lecture in Epilepsy, Dr. Elson So of the Mayo Clinic - Rochester, Minnesota, summarized the results of that unique collaborative effort and projected the promise of SUDEP research, education, and advocacy.

About the Judith Hoyer Lecture in Epilepsy

The Judith Hoyer Lecture in Epilepsy is presented at the American Epilepsy Society’s Annual Meeting. This lecture is held in memory of Mrs. Judith Hoyer, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation and the late wife of U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD). Mrs. Hoyer spent her life both helping families to cope with epilepsy and promoting research into a cure and a better quality of life for those with the disorder.

The purpose of the lecture is to raise awareness of epilepsy among researchers and the public and provide intellectual stimulation that will encourage continuing progress toward finding a cure for epilepsy. It is supported in part by educational grants from Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., and the National Institute of Neurological Disorderss and Stroke (NINDS).