title: Clinical and Neurophysiologic Characteristics of Unprovoked Seizures in Patients Diagnosed With Dementia.
abstract: Seizures are a common comorbid condition in patients with dementia, but their characteristics have been poorly described. The authors performed a retrospective chart review using ICD-9 diagnosis codes consistent with seizures and with dementia. Seventy-seven patients were identified. Average age at onset was 68.1 years for cognitive symptoms, 71.5 years for dementia, and 73.9 years for seizures. Seizures preceded or followed cognitive symptoms (4.3 years before and 18.7 years after). At last follow-up, 12% of patients continued to have seizures. Findings show that unprovoked seizures can precede or follow the onset of dementia, but these seizures are controlled with medications in the majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Edward B. Bromfield Epilepsy Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (RAS); the Frontotemporal Dementia Unit and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (BCD) and the Epilepsy Service (AJC), Dept. of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and the Neuropsychiatry Clinics, Depts. of Psychiatry and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (ZNC).
authors.forename: Rani A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sarkis
authors.affiliation: From the Edward B. Bromfield Epilepsy Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (RAS); the Frontotemporal Dementia Unit and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (BCD) and the Epilepsy Service (AJC), Dept. of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and the Neuropsychiatry Clinics, Depts. of Psychiatry and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (ZNC).
authors.forename: Bradford C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.affiliation: From the Edward B. Bromfield Epilepsy Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (RAS); the Frontotemporal Dementia Unit and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (BCD) and the Epilepsy Service (AJC), Dept. of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and the Neuropsychiatry Clinics, Depts. of Psychiatry and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (ZNC).
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: From the Edward B. Bromfield Epilepsy Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (RAS); the Frontotemporal Dementia Unit and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (BCD) and the Epilepsy Service (AJC), Dept. of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and the Neuropsychiatry Clinics, Depts. of Psychiatry and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (ZNC).
authors.forename: Zeina N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Chemali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*