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47/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 47 out of 100. Brain scans and imaging

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Objective Patients with a primary neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairment are at increased risk for epilepsy. The goal of the present study was to characterize seizure type(s), etiological diagnosis of dementia, electroencephalogram (EEG) and imaging findings, and response to antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in these individuals. Methods A retrospective study was performed identifying patients in the Mayo Alzheimer Disease Patient Registry (ADPR) and Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) who were classified as having dementia and epilepsy from 1986 to 2006. Multiple clinical parameters were extracted from patient charts and evaluated to characterize the primary neurodegenerative disorder and seizure outcomes. Results Sixty-three of the 1738 ADPR and ADRC patients (3.6%) had epilepsy. Twenty-four of the 63 patients were excluded because of insufficient information regarding their epilepsy. The remaining 39 patients were analyzed. Twenty-eight of the 63 patients (72%) experienced complex partial seizures. Head MRI was performed in 35 patients (90%). Fourteen patients (36%) had MRI-identified structural lesions that included remote stroke and prior intracerebral hemorrhage. EEGs were obtained in 29 patients (74%). Fifteen patients (38%) had epileptiform discharges. Overall, it was found that 79% had an excellent response to AED therapy. Approximately one-third of the patients had dose-related side effects from an AED. Conclusion The present study indicated that most individuals with the comorbidity of epilepsy and dementia have complex partial seizures that may be adequately controlled on AED therapy. The long-term effect of seizure activity on the neurodegenerative disorder is unknown.

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APA 7th

Rao, S. C., Dove, G., Cascino, G. D., & Petersen, R. C. (2009). Recurrent seizures in patients with dementia: frequency, seizure types, and treatment outcome. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.08.012

Vancouver

Rao SC, Dove G, Cascino GD, Petersen RC. Recurrent seizures in patients with dementia: frequency, seizure types, and treatment outcome. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.08.012. PMID: 18782632.

BibTeX

@article{rao2009-18782632,
  author  = {Rao, S. C. and Dove, G. and Cascino, G. D. and Petersen, R. C.},
  title   = {{Recurrent seizures in patients with dementia: frequency, seizure types, and treatment outcome}},
  journal = {Epilepsy \& behavior : E\&B},
  year    = {2009},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.08.012},
  pmid    = {18782632},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.08.012}
}

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Key findings

Objective Patients with a primary neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairment are at increased risk for epilepsy.
Results Sixty-three of the 1738 ADPR and ADRC patients (3.6%) had epilepsy.
Overall, it was found that 79% had an excellent response to AED therapy.
Conclusion The present study indicated that most individuals with the comorbidity of epilepsy and dementia have complex partial seizures that may be adequately controlled on AED therapy.

Why it matters

In this group of patients with both dementia and epilepsy, most had complex partial seizures and 79% responded well to antiepileptic drug therapy. This suggests seizures in dementia patients can often be controlled with medication, though the study was retrospective and included only 39 analyzed patients.

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Study details

Participants63
Effect size3.6%
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 47/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Epilepsy & behavior : E&B)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Epilepsy & Behavior: journal h-index 154 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	1 / 5	2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	1 / 4	63 participants
Effect reported	2 / 3	Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	5 / 7	Cited 168 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	3 / 5	8.8 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 4.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author Ronald Carl Petersen: h-index 209 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	2 / 3	Mayo Clinic: institution h-index 1,606 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	0 / 3	OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete)
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18782632)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	47 / 100	—

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