A scientific study conducted by British researchers said that a combination of missed opportunities and inequalities in health care can lead to premature deaths among people with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities. The study indicated that around 1.2 million people in England have some form of intellectual disability, and that epilepsy affects an estimated 20 to 25% of them, or up to 300,000 people, compared to only 1% of the general population. The study indicated that until now, evidence regarding risk and protective factors associated with death from epilepsy in people with intellectual disabilities was limited, and this new study sought to fill this gap. Big differences The study analyzed data on nearly 10,000 deaths between 2016 and 2021, and is the largest global study to date looking at epilepsy-related deaths in adults with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy. The study found that epilepsy was the main cause of death in more than 16% of these people, and that their average age at death was significantly lower, reaching 56 years, compared to 62 years for those whose health records recorded causes of death other than epilepsy. The study highlighted significant differences in epilepsy-related deaths based on race, with individuals of African and Asian descent dying on average at only 36 years of age, compared to their white British counterparts. The study noted that targeted interventions, such as annual health checks, access to multidisciplinary care and specialist support in psychiatry and speech and language therapy, already exist but are rarely applied uniformly. The researchers emphasized that these interventions have been shown to be effective in extending people’s lifespan, but poor quality care, gaps in services and lack of annual check-ups should be considered unacceptable in modern healthcare. The study recommended that services be systematically redesigned to try to prevent avoidable epilepsy-related deaths among people with intellectual disabilities in the future. The study shows that people with intellectual disability are at greater risk of dying prematurely, with ethnic minorities in the UK at greater risk. The researchers say what is most shocking is that there are strategies, including psychological support and speech and language therapy, that can help these people, but it is unacceptable that these services are not used regularly and systematically across England, especially when we are talking about people who are very vulnerable and often find it difficult to express their needs or concerns. Inequality: The study revealed the inequality that people with epilepsy and mental disabilities face, as the results show that they die at a very early age, and that individuals of African and Asian origin are more vulnerable to premature death, reflecting deep and sustainable gaps in health care, even within one country. The results confirmed that these deaths can be prevented through annual examinations, access to appropriate specialists and integrated individual care plans, but they are often unavailable or irregular. She emphasized that health institutions must act urgently to provide proactive, coordinated and equitable care to ensure that every person with epilepsy and intellectual disability lives longer and healthier lives. The findings provide a strong scientific basis to support calls for reform, suggesting that improving access to multidisciplinary care, annual check-ups and individualized care plans could significantly reduce early deaths associated with epilepsy in people with intellectual disabilities, particularly among ethnic minorities who are most at risk. They explained that community awareness and pressure on policy makers are needed to ensure that these recommendations are implemented comprehensively and uniformly across all regions of the UK.