Open AccessNonconvulsive Seizures and Dementia: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Chiara Campana,
Giovanni Assenza,
Giovanni Pellegrino,
Antonella Benvenga,
Federica Assenza,
Francesca Ursini,
Fabrizio Vernieri,
Mario Tombini
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of alzheimer s disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.657
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2090-8024
pISSN - 2090-0252
DOI - 10.4061/2011/690305
Subject(s) - dementia , status epilepticus , medicine , neuropsychology , epilepsy , incidence (geometry) , cognition , pediatrics , electroencephalography , cognitive decline , diazepam , pathological , cognitive impairment , anesthesia , psychiatry , disease , physics , optics
Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a severe medical condition that shows increased incidence in the elderly and is frequently underdiagnosed because of its pleomorphic presentation. We report an NCSE in a 76-year-old woman affected by dementia with acute change of cognitive status and behavior. Intravenous diazepam solved clinical and electroencephalographic manifestations. Neuropsychological assessment after NCSE conclusion showed impairment of several fields that remained unchanged at 3-month followup. NCSE should be considered when sudden and transient cognitive fluctuations appear in the elderly. Epileptic events in dementia occur frequently and are often underrecognized; this could be a misleading factor when considering a quick progression of mnesic performances. Moreover, recent findings both in animal models and in humans demonstrated the deep link between epilepsy and dementia, also supporting the hypothesis that epileptiform activity could contribute to cognitive impairment
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