People with Alzheimer’s disease experience epileptic seizures up to five times more often than those without dementia, new research has found.
The risk is much higher than previously thought, Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, told the AARP. She suggested that seizure-history assessments should be conducted in individuals living with Alzheimer’s, to help better inform medical care decisions. And eldercare providers should remain vigilant for signs of seizure activity, like involuntary jerking of arms or legs, unusual behavior or loss of awareness, she said.
In addition, anti-epileptic drug therapy after the first seizure is critical to maintaining future health, researcher Jonathan Vöglein, M.D., said in a recent presentation. This may help to prevent what he called an “exceptionally” high likelihood of recurrence, especially for those in the advanced stages of the disease, the Alzheimer’s Association reported.
“Clinicians really need to be aware of how common seizures are in persons with Alzheimer’s disease, in order to better monitor and treat these individuals,” Edelmayer concluded.
The study results were presented at last week’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019 in Los Angeles.
Watch a video of Jonathan Vöglein, M.D., speaking about epilepsy in Alzheimer’s disease and anti-epileptic drugs. Read more about the seizure and epilepsy study findings here.
