Abstract
IntroductionThe incidence of epilepsy is higher in patients with underlying dementia.1 The goal of the present study is to look at the incidence of dementia in patients presented to our epilepsy clinic and analyse electroencephalogram (EEG), imaging findings and response to antiepileptic drug (AED) in these individuals.MethodsA retrospective study was performed on patients presented to Nepean Hospital epilepsy clinic from 2015 to 2017. Multiple clinical parameters were obtained from electronic medical records.ResultsA total of 258 patients presented to the clinic, of which 38 patients were above the age of 65 years. 11 patients were excluded due to insufficient information or patients without any history of seizures. Out of the remaining 27 patients studied, nine patients (33%) had dementia including five patients (19%) with Alzheimer’s dementia. Sixteen patients (59%) experienced complex partial seizures. Brain MRI was performed in twenty one patients (78%). Sixteen patients (59%) had MRI-identified structural lesions including prior stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage. EEGs were performed in twenty patients (74%). Eight patients (40%) had abnormal EEG with one patient (5%) having epileptiform discharges, three patients (15%) having focal slowing and four patients (20%) having generalised slowing. Overall, nineteen patients (70%) were on AEDs with good control and four patients (15%) required more than one AED to achieve seizure control.ConclusionThe study showed that there is higher incidence of dementia in patients with epilepsy compared with general population.2 Most patients experience complex partial seizures and can be adequately controlled on single AED.ReferencesRao S, Dove G, Cascino G, Petersen R. Recurrent seizures in patients with dementia: Frequency, seizure types, and treatment outcome. Epilepsy & Behavior 2009, 14(1), pp.118–120.ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2016, Life Tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2013–2015, cat. no. 3302.0.55.001, ABS, Canberra
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