We previously found that over 5% of all apparent SCDs are due to a neurologic cause, a condition we have coined Sudden Neurologic Death. In partnership with UCSF neurologist Dr. Anthony Kim and NYU epileptologist Dr. Orrin Devinsky we are characterizing the risk factors and underlying causes of these SNDs, including fatal strokes, intracranial hemorrhages, and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

Upon characterizing the true burden of SUDEP within apparent SCDs, we found that SUDEP cases had lower levels of cardiac pathology than sudden arrhythmic deaths (SAD). Cardiac pathology was similar between SUDEP cases and trauma and epilepsy control cases. 

For more details, please refer to our publication, Incidence of cardiac fibrosis in SUDEP and control cases.