Epilepsy, dementia and adaptive behaviour in Down's syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Genetics
• Gerontology

Background:

• Down syndrome is associated with an increased risk of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
• Epilepsy is also more prevalent in individuals with Down syndrome.
• The relationship between late-onset epilepsy and cognitive decline in this population requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the onset of seizures and adaptive behavior in adults with Down syndrome.
• To explore the potential link between late-onset epilepsy and dementia in individuals with Down syndrome.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 378 adults with Down syndrome in Leicestershire, UK, was studied.
• Carers were interviewed to gather seizure history and complete Adaptive Behaviour Scale (ABS) ratings.
• Individuals were grouped by seizure onset age (before or after 35 years) and compared with seizure-free controls.

Main Results:

• Adaptive Behaviour Scale scores were similar between early-onset epilepsy and no-seizure groups.
• Individuals with late-onset epilepsy showed significantly reduced ABS scores across all domains compared to younger epileptic patients and controls.
• Late-onset epilepsy was significantly associated with a clinical diagnosis of dementia in case records.

Conclusions:

• Late-onset epilepsy in Down syndrome may indicate a late manifestation of a dementing process.
• Findings support the hypothesis that late-onset epilepsy in Down syndrome is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
• This highlights the importance of monitoring for epilepsy and cognitive decline in aging adults with Down syndrome.