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America's 'Epilepsy Belt' Revealed in New Study
21 Nov
Summary
- New study maps higher epilepsy rates in older adults in the U.S. South.
- Sleep deprivation, extreme heat, and lack of exercise are key risk factors.
- Geospatial mapping identifies specific regions with significant epilepsy clusters.
A first-of-its-kind nationwide study has identified America's "epilepsy belt," a region characterized by higher rates of epilepsy among older adults. Researchers utilized advanced geospatial machine learning on data from 4.8 million Medicare beneficiaries between 2016 and 2019.
The study revealed significantly higher epilepsy incidence in older adults across parts of the South, including Louisiana, Mississippi, East Texas, and central Oklahoma. This geographic pattern suggests a strong influence of local social and environmental factors on the condition's prevalence.
Key risk factors identified include less than seven hours of sleep per night, extreme heat, lack of physical activity, and limited access to transportation. The study underscores the need for targeted public health strategies addressing these determinants in high-burden regions.
