Overview

• Published August 25 in JAMA Neurology, the Human Epilepsy Project tracked nearly 450 newly diagnosed patients at 34 centers from 2012 to 2019 with multi‑year follow‑up.
• Most participants eventually responded to medication, yet major seizure improvement typically took about 12 months.
• Sixty‑three percent had ongoing or worsening seizures during the first year of therapy despite eventual responders being included in that figure.
• Fifty‑seven percent started on levetiracetam, but only about one quarter achieved seizure freedom on their first regimen.
• Lower pre‑treatment seizure frequency predicted better outcomes, a history of anxiety or depression was linked to nearly double the likelihood of drug resistance, and investigators noted limitations and industry‑linked funding disclosures while planning analyses of non‑responders.