Epileptic seizures more common in frontotemporal dementia patients than previously known

According to a recent study, epileptic seizures are considerably more common in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) attacks. The discovery deepens the understanding of the symptoms of this memory disorder and emphasizes the importance of taking epileptic seizures in the treatment and monitoring of patients.

Coordinated by Neurocenter Finland, investigated this most important project of the University of East Finland and the University of Oulu the prevalence of epilepsy in patients with FTD. The research dataset is one of the largest in the world and the results have been published in the prestigious Jama Neurology magazine.

Epilepsy took place years before the FTD diagnosis

It is known that epilepsy is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, for example, but data about the connection between FTD and epilepsy remains scarce. The newly published study fills this information gap and shows that epilepsy occurs considerably more often in patients with FTD than previously estimated.

The study analyzed patient data from the university hospitals of Kuopio and Oulu of the period 2010-2021. Of a total of 12,490 medical records, the study identified 245 patients with FTD and 1,326 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to investigating the prevalence of epilepsy in these patients, the prevalence was also investigated in healthy checks.

Our results show that epilepsy occurs considerably more often in people with FTD than with Alzheimer’s disease or in healthy checks. It is remarkable that epilepsy occurred in some patients with FTD ten years before their dementia diagnosis, and it was more common in all the stages of the disease investigated than previous international studies have reported. “

PhD student Annemari Kilpeläinen, first author of the research article and medical specialist in neurology

The prevalence of epilepsy was assessed at different times of ten years before five years after the diagnosis of dementia. In patients with FTD, the prevalence of epilepsy increased over time and five years after the diagnosis, about 11% had epilepsy. In addition to epilepsy diagnoses, drugs used for epilepsy were more common in patients with FTD, who strengthen the reliability of the results.

Epilepsy cannot remain diagnosed

Diagnosing epilepsy in patients with FTD can be a challenge because the symptoms of the disease can look like epileptic seizures. This can lead to sub -diagnosis and delays in the treatment. However, untreated epilepsy can considerably aggravate the condition of patients.

“Identifying epilepsy is important because its treatment can improve the functional capacity and quality of life of patients. Knowledge about the association between epilepsy and FTD raises new research questions: Share these diseases Share some pathophysiological mechanisms and some FTD symptoms can be caused by Head of the Specific Systems”, says of the project of the brain’s change “, says the changes of the brain, says the project of the brain’s changes”, says the changes of the brain, “says the brain’s projects”, says the brain’s change “, says the brain’s change”, says the brain’s change “, says the brain’s change”, says “,” of the brain “,” changes “. of the brain project.

An extensive research project brings together various science areas

The recently published research is part of an extensive project that combines exceptionally extensive real-life patient data with different types of unique registers. The project includes strong cooperation between the University of Oulu and the University of East Infinland, as well as various science areas, including between researchers in the field of medicine and rights. Kuopio University Hospital and Oulu University Hospital are part of the international European reference network Epicare and recognized centers in the field of epilepsy treatment and research.