A study of the relationship between participation in common leisure activities and seizure occurrence.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether participation in a structured programme of fairly intensive leisure activities increased seizure occurrence.


METHODS
212 adults with medically-intractable epilepsy were closely monitored for seizure occurrence during an "activities day", i.e. a day consisting of various structured sessions of leisure pursuits (video game play, reading, word puzzles, television, physical exercise), and during other days of relative rest, whilst undergoing prolonged video EEG monitoring.


RESULTS
The relative risk of seizures did not differ significantly during activities days [0.71 (95% CL: 0.38 to 1.33)] compared with days of relative rest.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings fail to provide empirical support for the hypothesis that cognitive exertion has an adverse effect on seizure control.
Millett
C J
CJ
Medical and Community Genetics, Imperial College School of Medicine, Harrow, UK.
Johnson
A L
AL
Thompson
P J
PJ
Fish
D R
DR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*