Prevalence and Causes of Seizures at the Time of Diagnosis of Probable Alzheimer’s Disease

• Published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 121 - 124
• Main Authors: Lozsadi, D.A., Larner, A.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2006; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - complications; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Bacterial diseases of the aorta, limb vessels and lymphatic vessels; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Oculomotor disorders; Ophthalmology; Original Research Article; Seizures - complications; Seizures - epidemiology; Seizures - etiology; Alzheimer's disease; Epilepsy; Seizures; Nervous system diseases; Prevalence; Cognitive disorder; Alzheimer disease; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Diagnosis; Cerebral disorder; Dementia
• ISSN: 1420-8008; 1421-9824
• DOI: 10.1159/000093664

Background/Aims: To investigate the frequency of epilepsy at the time of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Observational study, Cognitive Function Clinic population, over a 6-year period (2000–2005 inclusive). Results: In a cohort of 177 patients with newly diagnosed clinically probable AD, 12 (6.8%) had a history of seizure disorder and/or were using anti-epileptic medications at the time of diagnosis. In 6 of these cases (3.4%), seizure onset was approximately concurrent with the onset of cognitive decline, and no symptomatic or provoking factor for seizures other than AD was identified. Conclusion: Although epileptic seizures are more common later in the course of AD, nonetheless they may accompany the onset of, and be symptomatic of, the disease, perhaps reflecting a shared pathogenesis.