DEMENTIA IN PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY

Abstract

Introduction. In today's world, the number of dementia patients is dramatically increasing. It is due to several factors. The number of patients with epilepsy is also high. According to a study conducted in 2012, 8.8 out of every 1000 people in Georgia have epilepsy. There should be up to 35,000 individuals with active epilepsy in the country.

The aim of the topic is to determine the prevalence of dementia in patients with epilepsy who have not previously been diagnosed with dementia.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted in Batumi, Georgia at a high-tech clinic in the medical center.  During 2018-2020, the study included 82 people with epilepsy (confirmed) aged from 20 to 80 years. To diagnose dementia, we studied the patient's medical history, physical examination, and assessed their mental and cognitive functions. We conducted a Mini-Mental State Examination. Surveyed family members because often the patient found it difficult to accurately describe the symptoms. We paid special attention to the starting point of the disease, duration, and progress of the worsening of the symptoms. The examined patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

Results and conclusion. According to our study variable degree of cognitive impairment was found in epileptic patients. In patients with severe epilepsy and dementia, the intellectual capacity is reduced (55%), Urinary incontinence is expressed in (25%), In conclusion, with continuous adequate antiepileptic treatment and medical supervision, complete cessation of epileptic seizures is achieved in 70-75% of patients with adequate psychotherapy and an adequate psycho-social environment, although treatment of cognitive impairment should be considered in accordance with our research, symptoms of dementia is highly prevalent during epilepsy. Most of the respondents follow the established way of life.