Kalyvas Athanasios-Christos, Smyrni Nikoletta, Ioannidis Panagiotis, Grigoriadis Nikolaos, Afrantou Theodora
2nd Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Stilponos Kyriakidi Street 1, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece.
J Pers Med. 2025 Sep 2;15(9):413. doi: 10.3390/jpm15090413.
: Epilepsy and cognitive impairment frequently coexist, yet their relationship remains complex and insufficiently understood. This study aims to explore the clinical and electrophysiological features of patients presenting with both conditions in order to identify patterns that may inform more accurate diagnosis and effective management within a personalized medicine framework. : We retrospectively analyzed 14 patients with late-onset epilepsy and coexisting cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Clinical history, cognitive assessments, neuroimaging, and electroencephalographic recordings were reviewed. EEG abnormalities, seizure types, and treatment responses were systematically documented. : Patients were categorized into two groups: (1) those with established Alzheimer's disease who later developed epilepsy and (2) those in whom epilepsy preceded cognitive impairment. Temporal lobe involvement was a key feature, with EEG abnormalities frequently localizing to the frontal-temporal electrodes and manifesting as background slowing, focal multiform slow waves, and epileptiform discharges. Levetiracetam was the most commonly used antiseizure medication, and it was effective across both groups. : This case series highlights the value of EEG in characterizing patients with subclinical and overt epileptic activity and cognitive impairment comorbidity. The inclusion of a substantial number of cases with documented EEG abnormalities provides valuable insight into the interplay between epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases. By integrating neurophysiological data with clinical and cognitive trajectories, this work aligns with the principles of precision medicine, facilitating a more comprehensive evaluation and tailored management approach. Further longitudinal studies are required to validate prognostic markers and guide optimal therapeutic strategies.
癫痫与认知障碍常常并存,但其关系仍很复杂且尚未得到充分理解。本研究旨在探讨同时患有这两种病症的患者的临床和电生理特征,以便识别出能在个性化医疗框架内为更准确的诊断和有效管理提供依据的模式。我们回顾性分析了14例迟发性癫痫合并认知障碍的患者,包括轻度认知障碍和阿尔茨海默病患者。对临床病史、认知评估、神经影像学和脑电图记录进行了回顾。系统记录了脑电图异常、癫痫发作类型和治疗反应。患者被分为两组:(1)已确诊为阿尔茨海默病且后来发展为癫痫的患者,以及(2)癫痫先于认知障碍出现的患者。颞叶受累是一个关键特征,脑电图异常常定位于额颞电极,表现为背景活动减慢、局灶性多形性慢波和癫痫样放电。左乙拉西坦是最常用的抗癫痫药物,对两组均有效。本病例系列突出了脑电图在表征亚临床和明显癫痫活动与认知障碍合并症患者方面的价值。纳入大量有记录的脑电图异常病例为深入了解癫痫与神经退行性疾病之间的相互作用提供了有价值的见解。通过将神经生理数据与临床和认知轨迹相结合,本研究符合精准医学原则,有助于进行更全面的评估和制定个性化的管理方法。需要进一步开展纵向研究以验证预后标志物并指导最佳治疗策略。