13.02.2026
Sleep plays a bigger role in brain health than most people realise. Can lack of sleep cause seizures? Yes, it can. When sleep is consistently disrupted, your brain’s electrical activity becomes harder to regulate, and the risk of seizures goes up.
Here, Dr. Aditi Desai, President of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine, explains why lack of sleep cause seizures in some people, whether sleep apnoea cause seizures too, and what you can do about it.
How Poor Sleep Raises Seizure Risk
What Happens in the Brain
Your brain relies on a balance between signals that activate nerve cells and signals that calm them down. When you don’t get enough sleep, that balance shifts. The calming signals weaken, while the activating signals get stronger. This leaves the brain in an overexcited state where seizures are more likely to happen.
So can lack of sleep cause seizures even after just a short period? It depends on the person, but research shows that the longer you go without proper rest, the more the risk builds up.
Why Sleep Stages Matter
Your brain cycles through different stages of sleep each night, and not all of them carry the same seizure risk. Most sleep-related seizures, around 95%, happen during the lighter stages of non-REM sleep, when brain waves tend to synchronise in patterns that can tip into seizure activity.
REM sleep, the stage associated with dreaming, actually has a protective effect. It’s less likely to produce the repetitive patterns that trigger seizures. This matters because conditions like sleep apnoea tend to disrupt REM sleep more than other stages, removing one of the brain’s natural safeguards. It’s one of the reasons people ask whether can sleep apnoea cause seizures, and the answer is increasingly clear.
Can Sleep Apnoea Cause Seizures?
Can sleep apnoea cause seizures? The evidence says yes, especially when it goes untreated. The two conditions tend to make each other worse.
With sleep apnoea, the airway repeatedly closes during the night, causing oxygen levels to drop each time. These drops put stress on the brain and can damage sensitive areas over time. On top of that, every time the airway closes and reopens, it briefly wakes you up, even if you don’t remember it. This constant disruption stops you from getting the deep, uninterrupted sleep your brain needs.
Because apnoea episodes happen most often during REM sleep, when the muscles around the airway are most relaxed, people with sleep apnoea tend to lose more of this protective sleep stage than any other. Less REM sleep means less natural protection against seizures. This is one of the key ways sleep apnoea cause seizures in people who are already vulnerable.
The overlap between the two conditions is significant. Research suggests that roughly one-third of people with epilepsy also have sleep apnoea, and many don’t know it. Symptoms like daytime tiredness and brain fog are often put down to epilepsy or medication side effects, when sleep apnoea may be playing a major role.
Why Getting a Specialist Assessment Matters
Understanding whether can lack of sleep cause seizures in your particular situation requires a proper evaluation. For people dealing with both epilepsy and sleep apnoea, treating the sleep problem can make a real difference to seizure control. Research shows that patients who received proper treatment for their sleep apnoea were much more likely to see their seizures reduce compared to those whose sleep apnoea remained untreated.
The reasons are straightforward. Effective treatment stops the repeated oxygen drops, helps restore normal sleep patterns including more REM sleep, and means fewer night-time disruptions. All of this allows the brain to recover properly and maintain its natural defences.
The right treatment depends on your individual situation, which is why a specialist assessment is so important. For many patients, a mandibular advancement device is an effective and comfortable option. It’s a custom-fitted oral appliance that holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep, keeping the airway open. A sleep specialist can evaluate your condition, discuss the options that suit you best, and coordinate with your neurologist to ensure the most effective care.
The important thing is to identify and address health problems linked to sleep apnoea early, rather than leaving them undiagnosed.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Sleep
If you’re wondering can lack of sleep cause seizures and what you can do to lower your risk, good sleep habits are a strong starting point.
Stick to a regular schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends, helps your body find its rhythm and reduces the built-up sleep pressure that raises seizure risk.
Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Both disrupt your sleep patterns. Alcohol in particular reduces REM sleep, which is the stage that helps protect against seizures.
Talk to a specialist about your sleep. If you snore, wake with headaches, or feel excessively tired during the day, a professional assessment can uncover problems you might not be aware of. Given how directly sleep apnoea cause seizures or worsen them, this step is especially important if you have epilepsy or a history of seizures.
Make your bedroom work for sleep. Keep it dark, quiet, and cool. Try to avoid screens in the hour before bed, as the light can make it harder to fall asleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lack of sleep cause seizures in anyone?
Poor sleep raises seizure risk, particularly in people with epilepsy or an underlying predisposition. A specialist assessment can help determine your individual risk and the best way to manage it.
Can sleep apnoea cause seizures even if you don’t have epilepsy?
Sleep apnoea disrupts sleep patterns and reduces oxygen levels, both of which can lower the seizure threshold. If you have symptoms of sleep apnoea, it’s worth getting assessed by a specialist regardless of your seizure history.
How can I reduce my seizure risk through better sleep?
Keeping a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol before bed, and getting treated for any underlying sleep disorders like sleep apnoea are the most effective steps. A sleep specialist can help you build a plan that works for your situation.
Your Next Step
If you’re concerned about whether can sleep apnoea cause seizures, or if you experience heavy snoring, disrupted sleep, and persistent daytime fatigue, a specialist assessment can help. Dr. Aditi Desai offers comprehensive evaluations and personalised treatment plans, including oral appliance therapy, at her London practices.
Book a consultation to discuss your symptoms and explore your options.
