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Hickman LB, Stern JM, Silverman DHS, Salamon N, Vossel K. Clinical, imaging, and biomarker evidence of amyloid- and tau-related neurodegeneration in late-onset epilepsy of unknown etiology. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1241638. [PMID: 37830092 PMCID: PMC10565489 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1241638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests amyloid and tau-related neurodegeneration may play a role in development of late-onset epilepsy of unknown etiology (LOEU). In this article, we review recent evidence that epilepsy may be an initial manifestation of an amyloidopathy or tauopathy that precedes development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients with LOEU demonstrate an increased risk of cognitive decline, and patients with AD have increased prevalence of preceding epilepsy. Moreover, investigations of LOEU that use CSF biomarkers and imaging techniques have identified preclinical neurodegeneration with evidence of amyloid and tau deposition. Overall, findings to date suggest a relationship between acquired, non-lesional late-onset epilepsy and amyloid and tau-related neurodegeneration, which supports that preclinical or prodromal AD is a distinct etiology of late-onset epilepsy. We propose criteria for assessing elevated risk of developing dementia in patients with late-onset epilepsy utilizing clinical features, available imaging techniques, and biomarker measurements. Further research is needed to validate these criteria and assess optimal treatment strategies for patients with probable epileptic preclinical AD and epileptic prodromal AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Brian Hickman
- Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Seizure Disorder Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - John M. Stern
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Seizure Disorder Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Daniel H. S. Silverman
- Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Noriko Salamon
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Keith Vossel
- Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Reyes A, Schneider ALC, Kucharska-Newton AM, Gottesman RF, Johnson EL, McDonald CR. Cognitive phenotypes in late-onset epilepsy: results from the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1230368. [PMID: 37745655 PMCID: PMC10513940 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1230368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive phenotyping is a widely used approach to characterize the heterogeneity of deficits in patients with a range of neurological disorders but has only recently been applied to patients with epilepsy. In this study, we identify cognitive phenotypes in older adults with late-onset epilepsy (LOE) and examine their demographic, clinical, and vascular profiles. Further, we examine whether specific phenotypes pose an increased risk for progressive cognitive decline. Methods Participants were part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC), a prospective longitudinal community-based cohort study of 15,792 individuals initially enrolled in 1987-1989. LOE was identified from linked Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims data. Ninety-one participants with LOE completed comprehensive testing either prior to or after seizure onset as part of a larger cohort in the ARIC Neurocognitive Study in either 2011-2013 or 2016-2017 (follow-up mean = 4.9 years). Cognitive phenotypes in individuals with LOE were derived by calculating test-level impairments for each participant (i.e., ≤1 SD below cognitively normal participants on measures of language, memory, and executive function/processing speed); and then assigning participants to phenotypes if they were impaired on at least two tests within a domain. The total number of impaired domains was used to determine the cognitive phenotypes (i.e., Minimal/No Impairment, Single Domain, or Multidomain). Results At our baseline (Visit 5), 36.3% met criteria for Minimal/No Impairment, 35% for Single Domain Impairment (with executive functioning/ processing speed impaired in 53.6%), and 28.7% for Multidomain Impairment. The Minimal/No Impairment group had higher education and occupational complexity. There were no differences in clinical or vascular risk factors across phenotypes. Of those participants with longitudinal data (Visit 6; n = 24), 62.5% declined (i.e., progressed to a more impaired phenotype) and 37.5% remained stable. Those who remained stable were more highly educated compared to those that declined. Discussion Our results demonstrate the presence of identifiable cognitive phenotypes in older adults with LOE. These results also highlight the high prevalence of cognitive impairments across domains, with deficits in executive function/processing speed the most common isolated impairment. We also demonstrate that higher education was associated with a Minimal/No Impairment phenotype and lower risk for cognitive decline over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anny Reyes
- Department of Radiation Medicine & Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Andrea L. C. Schneider
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Anna M. Kucharska-Newton
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Rebecca F. Gottesman
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Emily L. Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Carrie R. McDonald
- Department of Radiation Medicine & Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Fernandes M, Manfredi N, Aluisantonio L, Franchini F, Chiaravalloti A, Izzi F, Di Santo S, Schillaci O, Mercuri NB, Placidi F, Liguori C. Cognitive functioning, cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and cerebral glucose metabolism in late-onset epilepsy of unknown aetiology: A prospective study. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5384-5396. [PMID: 35678770 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is increasing, being more common in older adults, with more than 20% of late-onset cases with unknown aetiology (LOEU). Although epilepsy was associated with cognitive impairment, few studies evaluated the trajectories of cognitive decline in patients with LOEU. The present study aimed at assessing biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with LOEU and evaluating their cognitive performance for 12 months. For this study, 55 patients diagnosed with LOEU and 21 controls were included. Participants underwent cognitive evaluation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker analysis (ß-amyloid42 , tau proteins) before starting anti-seizure medication and then repeated the cognitive evaluation at the 12-month follow-up. A subgroup of LOEU patients and controls also performed 18 F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG PET) before starting anti-seizure medication. At baseline, LOEU patients showed lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, worse cognitive performance in several domains, lower β-amyloid42 and higher tau proteins CSF levels than controls. Significantly reduced glucose consumption was observed in the right posterior cingulate cortex and left praecuneus areas in LOEU patients than controls, and this finding correlated with memory impairment. In the longitudinal analysis, a significant decrease in MMSE and an increase in verbal fluency scores were found in LOEU patients. These findings evidence that LOEU patients have a significant cognitive impairment, and alteration of cerebral glucose consumption and CSF AD biomarkers than controls. Moreover, they showed a progressive global cognitive decline at follow-up, although verbal fluency was preserved. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathophysiological aspects of LOEU and its association with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Fernandes
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Manfredi
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia Aluisantonio
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Agostino Chiaravalloti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Francesca Izzi
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Orazio Schillaci
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Nicola Biagio Mercuri
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Placidi
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Liguori
- Epilepsy Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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Morano A, Cerulli Irelli E, Salamone EM, Orlando B, Fanella M, Tinelli E, Ruffolo G, Zuliani L, Fattouch J, Manfredi M, Giallonardo AT, Di Bonaventura C. Late-onset seizures and epilepsy: Electroclinical features suggestive of autoimmune etiology. Front Neurol 2022; 13:924859. [PMID: 36034285 PMCID: PMC9412019 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.924859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Late-onset epilepsy (LOE) has recently become a topic of intense research. Besides stroke, tumors, and dementia, autoimmune encephalitis (AE) has emerged as another possible cause of recurrent seizures in the elderly, and may account for a proportion of cases of LOE of unknown origin (LOEUO). This 24-h ambulatory electroencephalography (AEEG)-based study compared patients with LOEUO and AE to identify features suggestive of immune-mediated seizures in the elderly. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed 232 AEEG examinations performed in patients over 55 years with ≥6-month follow-up, and selected 21 subjects with AE and 25 subjects with LOEUO. Clinical charts and AEEG recordings were carefully analyzed. Results Twenty-five patients with LOEUO (12 women, mean age at onset 67.9 years) and 21 AE subjects (8 women, mean age at onset 65.7 years) were enrolled. High-frequency seizures were reported in 20/21 AE and 7/25 LOEUO cases (p < 0.00001). Focal aware seizures were more common in AE (14/21 vs. 6/25, p = 0.00058), whereas “isolated” focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures occurred in 5/25 patients with LOEUO only (p = 0.053). AE subjects reported ictal autonomic manifestations more frequently (p = 0.0033). Three-hundred-seventy and 24 seizures were recorded in 13/21 patients with AE and 3/25 patients with LOEUO, respectively (p = 0.0006). Interictal epileptiform discharges were observed in 70% of both groups, but their sleep activation was more common in AE (p = 0.06). Conclusion Our study shows that high-frequency focal seizures with autonomic manifestations should raise the suspicion of AE in the elderly with new-onset seizures. It also highlights the relevant contribution of AEEG, which might reduce the diagnostic delay and provide useful clues to recognize AE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Morano
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Cerulli Irelli
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Michele Salamone
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Biagio Orlando
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Fanella
- Neurology Unit, Ospedale “Fabrizio Spaziani”, Frosinone, Italy
| | - Emanuele Tinelli
- Unit of Neuroradiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ruffolo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Istituto di ricerca e cura a carattere scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Jinane Fattouch
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Manfredi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Teresa Giallonardo
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Di Bonaventura
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Epilepsy Centre, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Carlo Di Bonaventura
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DiFrancesco JC, Labate A, Romoli M, Chipi E, Salvadori N, Galimberti CA, Perani D, Ferrarese C, Costa C. Clinical and Instrumental Characterization of Patients With Late-Onset Epilepsy. Front Neurol 2022; 13:851897. [PMID: 35359649 PMCID: PMC8963711 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.851897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is classically considered a childhood disease. However, it represents the third most frequent neurological condition in the elderly, following stroke, and dementia. With the progressive aging of the general population, the number of patients with Late-Onset Epilepsy (LOE) is constantly growing, with important economic and social consequences, in particular for the more developed countries where the percentage of elderly people is higher. The most common causes of LOE are structural, mainly secondary to cerebrovascular or infectious diseases, brain tumors, trauma, and metabolic or toxic conditions. Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence linking LOE with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, despite a thorough characterization, the causes of LOE remain unknown in a considerable portion of patients, thus termed as Late-Onset Epilepsy of Unknown origin (LOEU). In order to identify the possible causes of the disease, with an important impact in terms of treatment and prognosis, LOE patients should always undergo an exhaustive phenotypic characterization. In this work, we provide a detailed review of the main clinical and instrumental techniques for the adequate characterization of LOE patients in the clinical practice. This work aims to provide an easy and effective tool that supports routine activity of the clinicians facing LOE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo C. DiFrancesco
- Department of Neurology, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, School of Medicine and Surgery and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- *Correspondence: Jacopo C. DiFrancesco
| | - Angelo Labate
- Neurophysiopathology Unit, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Images (BIOMORF), University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Michele Romoli
- Section of Neurology, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elena Chipi
- Section of Neurology, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Nicola Salvadori
- Section of Neurology, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Perani
- Nuclear Medicine Unit and Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrarese
- Department of Neurology, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, School of Medicine and Surgery and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Cinzia Costa
- Section of Neurology, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Cinzia Costa
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Costa C, Vecchio F, Romoli M, Miraglia F, Cesarini EN, Alù F, Calabresi P, Rossini PM. Cognitive Decline Risk Stratification in People with Late-Onset Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology: An Electroencephalographic Connectivity and Graph Theory Pilot Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 88:893-901. [PMID: 34842184 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although people with late onset epilepsy of unknown etiology (LOEU) are at higher risk of cognitive decline compared to the general population, we still lack affordable tools to predict and stratify their risk of dementia. OBJECTIVE This pilot-study investigates the potential application of electroencephalography (EEG) network small-world (SW) properties in predicting cognitive decline among patients with LOEU. METHODS People diagnosed with LOEU and normal cognitive examination at the time of epilepsy diagnosis were included. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, brain imaging, and neuropsychological assessment were performed at the time of epilepsy diagnosis. Baseline EEG was analyzed for SW properties. Patients were followed-up over time with neuropsychological testing to define the trajectory of cognitive decline. RESULTS Over 5.1 years of follow-up, among 24 patients diagnosed with LOEU, 62.5% were female, mean age was 65.3 years, thirteen developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and four developed dementia. Patients with LOEU developing MCI had lower values of SW coefficients in the delta (p = 0.03) band and higher SW values in the alpha frequency bands (p = 0.02) compared to patients having normal cognition at last follow-up. The two separate ANOVAs, for low and alpha bands, confirmed an interaction between SW and cognitive decline at follow-up. A similar gradient was confirmed for patients developing dementia compared to those with normal cognitive function as well as to those developing MCI. CONCLUSION Baseline EEG analysis through SW is worth investigating as an affordable, widely available tool to stratify LOEU patients for their risk of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Costa
- Neurology Clinic, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital -University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vecchio
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience & Neurorehabilition, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Roma, Italy.,eCampus University, Novedrate (Como), Italy
| | - Michele Romoli
- Neurology Clinic, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital -University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,UOC Neurologia e Rete Stroke Metropolitana, Ospedale Maggiore C.A. Pizzardi, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Miraglia
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience & Neurorehabilition, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Elena Nardi Cesarini
- Neurology Clinic, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital -University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,UOC Neurologia, Ospedale di Senigallia, Senigallia, Italy
| | - Francesca Alù
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience & Neurorehabilition, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- Neurologia, DipartimentoNeuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.,Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario"A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Paolo Maria Rossini
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience & Neurorehabilition, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Roma, Italy
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