The Effect of Ketogenic Dietary Therapy on Sleep in Adult Epilepsy

Twenty participants, 10 participants on the modified Atkins diet and 10 control participants, will be enrolled in the study. All participants will fill out validated sleep questionnaires and complete sleep and seizure diaries. Furthermore, all participants will wear actigraphy watches prior to ketogenic dietary therapy initiation as well as four to six weeks after being on the diet. For control participants, the actigraphy will be completed at two time points to mimic that of the participants in the dietary therapy group. For the home sleep studies for the subset of participants, these will be completed at similar time intervals as that of the actigraphy. Adherence to the diet will be monitored according to standard medical management; for any participant on the diet, he or she will keep track of food intake and track ketones, which will be submitted at the four to six week follow-up visit.