Scientists have been trying to find ways to predict an epileptic seizure for decades, with little success. They are almost always unpredictable. The best techniques we have now — machine learning and self-awareness — give us only minutes notice ahead of the seizure.

Now, for the first time, a study has shown that brain activity could be used to forecast the onset of epileptic seizures several days in advance.

A New Hope

A team of researchers looked into data from brain implants designed to monitor and prevent seizures. Buried in the data, they found patterns of brain activity that predicted seizure risk a day or more in advance. The researchers say this could be used to create an epileptic seizure forecasting tool — giving new hope to patients with epilepsy.