Science or fiction; living in extremes of the universe (space and under the sea) even with epilepsy: A systematic review

Purpose: The current systematic review aimed to investigate whether living under the sea or in space is detrimental for patients with epilepsy (PWE). We hypothesized that living under such conditions may predispose PWE to experience seizure recurrence by altering their brain function in a way that predis-poses them to seizures. Methods: This systematic review is reported according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. On October 26, 2022, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for relevant articles. Results: Our endeavor yielded six papers. One study provided level 2 of evidence, while the rest of the publications provided level 4 or 5 of evidence. Five publications were about the effects of space missions (or simulations), and one manuscript discussed the impacts of underwater experience. Conclusion: Currently, there is no evidence to make any recommendations about living in extremes of the universe (space and under the sea) with epilepsy. The scientific community should invest more time and effort in comprehensively investigating the potential risks associated with missions and living in such conditions. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This systematic review aimed to investigate the potential risks of living under the sea or in space for patients with epilepsy. Currently, there is no evidence to support any recommendations regarding living in extreme environments for individuals with epilepsy. Further research is needed to comprehensively understand the potential risks associated with such conditions.