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Abstract Details

Assessing Risk Factors for Developing Seizures in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease/Mild Cognitive Impairment
Epilepsy
P03 - (-)
134
BACKGROUND: The incidence of epilepsy increases progressively in old age. New onset epilepsy in the elderly is usually symptomatic, even though a considerable proportion of patients have no identified etiology. AD is the most common degenerative disease of the CNS and the most common cause of dementia. AD is a recognized risk factor for epilepsy. AD is associated with increased levels of ? amyloid (A ?) plaques and it is possible that these plaques facilitate the development of epilepsy in AD patients.
DESIGN/METHODS: This was a retrospective study using Drexel University Neurology clinic records. 69 patients had a diagnosis of AD or MCI and epilepsy. Patients who had a diagnosis of seizures prior to onset of cognitive impairment, patients who had seizures and cognitive impairment secondary to traumatic brain injury, and patients who had other medical factors which could cause seizures were excluded. 30 of the 69 patients fit the inclusion criteria. Multiple clinical parameters were extracted from patient charts and evaluated to characterize the risk factors for developing epilepsy in patients with AD or MCI including: gender, race, age, duration and severity of dementia.
RESULTS: All 30 subjects had seizure onset from 2 to 6 years after diagnosis of AD/MCI. The median time to first seizure was 2-3 years. There was no statistically significant difference in seizure onset after cognitive impairment among African American, Caucasian and Hispanics.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that we can use the time frame between onset of cognitive dysfunction and seizure onset as a possible index to predict the effect of other risk factors in seizure occurrence. The majority of patients manifested as complex partial seizures. There was no correlation between seizure onset and severity of dementia.
Authors/Disclosures
Jillian Edwards, DO
PRESENTER 		No disclosure on file
Ramin Ansari, MD No disclosure on file
Jyoti Pillai, MD, MBBS, MRCP, FÂ鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ (Tower Health/Drexel University College of Medicine) Dr. Pillai has a non-compensated relationship as a President with Pennsylvania Neurological Association that is relevant to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ interests or activities.
Carol F. Lippa, MD (Thomas Jefferson University) Dr. Lippa has nothing to disclose.
Eleonora Cocco No disclosure on file