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Prevalence and Associated Features of Epilepsy in Adults with Down's Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. W. McVicker ,
O. E. P. Shanks  and
R. J. McClelland
R. W. McVicker*
Affiliation:
Muckamore Abbey Hospital, 1 Abbey Road, Muckamore, Antrim BT41 4SH
O. E. P. Shanks
Affiliation:
Muckamore Abbey Hospital, 1 Abbey Road, Muckamore, Antrim BT41 4SH
R. J. McClelland
Affiliation:
The Queen's University of Belfast, The Whitla Medical Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of epilepsy in persons with Down's syndrome aged 19 years and over. A total of 191 adults with Down's syndrome were identified, giving a prevalence of 0.76/1000 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.77). Of these, 18 had epilepsy, giving a prevalence of 9.4% (95% CI 5.3% to 13.5%). The prevalence of epilepsy increased with age, reaching 46% in those over 50. The neurophysiological (EEG) findings of the epilepsy group were compared with those of a control group of Down's syndrome adults without epilepsy. Paroxysmal abnormalities consistent with a diagnosis of epilepsy were found in 80% of the epilepsy group, compared with only 13% of controls (P < 0.001). Epilepsy of late onset was associated with diffuse EEG abnormalities and clinical evidence of dementia. The age distribution and EEG findings suggest two independent processes in the causation of epilepsy: late-onset epilepsy associated with clinical evidence of dementia, and early-onset epilepsy in the absence of dementia.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 164 , Issue 4 , April 1994 , pp. 528 - 532
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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