[Reversible dementia due to valproic acid therapy]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Geriatrics
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Dementia is a progressive decline in cognitive function.
• Frontal-subcortical dementia presents with specific cognitive and behavioral changes.
• Drug-induced dementia is a recognized but often overlooked cause of cognitive impairment.

Observation:

• A 72-year-old woman developed progressive dementia with frontal-subcortical features.
• The dementia symptoms emerged during valproate (Depakine) therapy.

Findings:

• Discontinuation of valproate therapy resulted in the complete resolution of dementia symptoms.
• This case suggests a rare but direct association between valproate and reversible dementia.

Implications:

• Frontal-subcortical dementia features may indicate a reversible etiology.
• Clinicians should consider drug-induced causes, including valproate, in patients presenting with cognitive decline.
• Early identification and discontinuation of causative agents can lead to full recovery from dementia.