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Epileptic seizures in elderly patients with dementia
M J McAreavey1, B R Ballinger, G W Fenton
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Dundee, Scotland.
Epilepsia
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Epileptic seizures are common in dementia patients over 55, affecting 9.1%. While seizures are frequent, they rarely cause severe issues or accidents in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Dementia is a progressive neurological disorder affecting cognition and behavior.
- Seizures can occur in individuals with dementia, but their prevalence and impact are not fully understood.
- Understanding seizure occurrence in dementia is crucial for patient care and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of seizures in elderly dementia inpatients.
- To characterize the nature and frequency of seizures in this population.
- To investigate the association between epilepsy, cognitive impairment, and accidents in dementia.
Main Methods:
- Survey of all inpatients aged over 55 with dementia at Dundee Psychiatric Service.
- Data collection through staff interviews and medical record reviews.
- Assessment of cognitive function using Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly (CAPE) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Main Results:
- 19 out of 208 (9.1%) dementia inpatients experienced seizures.
- Seizures were predominantly major (92%) and occurred at approximately 2.3 seizures per patient annually.
- Epileptic patients were younger and more cognitively impaired on CAPE, but not MMSE, compared to controls.
- Only 5 of 111 reported accidents were linked to epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Epileptic seizures are relatively common in patients with severe dementia.
- Despite their frequency, epileptic seizures rarely lead to severe problems or accidents in this cohort.
- Further research may inform targeted interventions for seizure management in dementia.