Ley Sander - Selected Publications#

1. Shlobin NA, Sander JW. Learning from the comorbidities of epilepsy. Curr Opin Neurol. 2022; 35:175-180.

This very recent article summarises my contribution for the understanding of the role played by comorbidities in the epilepsies. It has already being cited seven times despite being a recent publication.

2. Watila MM, Balarabe SA Komolafe MA, Igwe SC, Fawale MB, Otte WM, van Diessen E, Okunoye O, Mshelia AA, Abdullahi I, Musa J, Hedima EW, Nyandaiti YW, Singh G, Winkler AS, Sander JW. Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Nigeria: A Community-Based Study from 3 Sites. Neurology. 2021; 97:e728-e738.

This is the first report of epidemiological data from Nigeria, with appropriate methodology, including the development and validation of screening questionnaires for epilepsy in the three most common languages in the country. It also includes the first case control study for preventable aetiologies of epilepsy in the country.

3. Rajakulendran S, Belluzzo M, Novy J, Sisodiya SM, Koepp MJ, Duncan JS, Sander JW. Late-life terminal seizure freedom in drug-resistant epilepsy: "Burned-out epilepsy". J Neurol Sci. 2021; 431:120043.

This is the first report of the spontaneous remission of seizures in older people with a life long history of severe epilepsy which seem to suggest that there changes to brain networks involved with the genesis and propagation of epileptic discharges as the brain degenerates.

4. Angwafor SA, Bell GS, Ngarka L, Otte W, Tabah EN, Nfor LN, Njamnshi TN,Njamnshi AK, Sander JW. Incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and associated factors in a health district in North-West Cameroon: A population survey. Epilepsy Behav; 121:108048.

This is the first report of the epidemiology of epilepsy in two different regions of Cameroon, suggesting that parasites, particularly Taenia solium and Onchocerca volvulus may play a role and this has major public health implications.

5. Sen A, Jette N, Husain M, Sander JW. Epilepsy in older people. Lancet. 2020; 395:735-748.

This is a part of the Lancet seminars and I was honoured to be ask by the Lancet to organise a seminar article two years in a row. It has already been cited over 100 times.

6. Thijs RD, Surges R, O'Brien TJ, Sander JW. Epilepsy in adults. Lancet. 2019; 393:689-701.

This is also part of the Lancet seminars and has already been cited over 500 times. An invitation by the Lancet to organise a seminar article is a major endorsement as academic clinician and suggest that you are an expert in the field.

7. Carpio A, Fleury A, Romo ML, Abraham R, Fandiño J, Durán JC, Cárdenas G, Moncayo J, Leite Rodrigues C, San-Juan D, Serrano-Dueñas M, Takayanagui O, Sander JW. New diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis: Reliability and validity. Ann Neurol. 2016; 80:434-42.

Neurocysticercosis is the commonest preventable risk factor for epilepsy in the tropical belt and therefore, any progress in diagnosing and managing this condition is important so I am proud of this contribution.

8. Ding D, Wang W, Wu J, Ma G, Dai X, Yang B, Wang T, Yuan C, Hong Z, de Boer HM, Prilipko L, Sander JW. Premature mortality in people with epilepsy in rural China: a prospective study. Lancet Neurol. 2006; 5:823-7.

This report of a staggering high risk of premature death amongst people with epilepsy in Rural China, led to major positive changes to the structure of health care for epilepsy in China.

9. Heaney DC, MacDonald BK, Everitt A, Stevenson S, Leonardi GS, Wilkinson P, Sander JW. Socioeconomic variation in incidence of epilepsy: prospective community based study in south east England. BMJ. 2002; 325:1013-6.

This is the first time that it was conclusively shown that social determinants of health also played a role in epilepsy. Previously it was assumed that poverty amongst people with epilepsy was due to the "dragging down" effect of the condition, but this work showed that epilepsy incidence is already higher in people from less wealthy sections of society.

10. Sander JW, Hart YM, Johnson AL, Shorvon SD. National General Practice Study of Epilepsy: newly diagnosed epileptic seizures in a general population. Lancet.1990; 336:1267-71

As a doctoral student having one's first papers in the Lancet is something never forgotten, it also helps that this paper is highly cited.