Clinical analysis of epilepsy associated with Alzheimer disease

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical features of epilepsy complicated with Alzheimer's disease(AD).

MethodsAmong 230 epilepsy patients, 17 patients with epilepsy complicated with AD were divided into the observation group, and 213 patients without AD were set as the control group.The clinical manifestations, electroencephalogram, imaging, laboratory examination, treatment and prognosis in two groups were analyzed.

ResultsIn the observation group, 6 cases occurred in early AD, 3 cases occurred in middle AD, and 8 cases occurred in late AD.For the epileptic seizure type, 8 cases were systemic tonic-clonic seizure, 12 cases were complex partial seizure, and 1 case was simple partial seizure.Three patients developed epileptic status.The abnormal rate of electroencephalogram in observation group was 82.35%(14/17), which was higher than that in the control group(43.19%, 92/213) (P<0.01).The incidence rate of brain atrophy in observation group(70.59%) was significantly higher than that in control group(4.69%) (P<0.01).The age of onset in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01).In the observation group, the Aβ42 decreased, total tau protein increased, and phosphorylated tau protein increased in 12 cases.In the observation group, the effects of antiepileptic drugs was not good, and the epileptic seizures increased with the aggravation of AD.

ConclusionsEpilepsy can occur at any stage of AD.Epilepsy and AD are correlated in pathology and pathogenesis.Temporal lobe hippocampal sclerosis is the pathological basis of epileptic seizures in AD patients.