Alzheimer's in Down syndrome patients increases epilepsy risk

An international multicenter study published in The Lancet has revealed a significant link between Alzheimer's disease and the onset of epilepsy in individuals with Down syndrome. The research, which analyzed 4,804 adults across seven European cohorts, suggests that late-onset epilepsy is an intrinsic part of the neurodegenerative process rather than a coincidental occurrence.

Neurologists noted that once symptoms of Alzheimer's begin, the risk of experiencing epileptic seizures increases markedly and continues to rise as the disease progresses. Experts attribute this to the biological mechanisms of Alzheimer's, which trigger neuronal hyperexcitability.

The study's data showed that among participants over 60, the incidence rate of epilepsy in those with Alzheimer's was 109.6 per 1,000 person-years, compared to only 6.9 in asymptomatic individuals.