Clinical variables in epilepsy in the elderly according to age at seizure onset

• Grant number: 25/03336-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Gloria Maria de Almeida Souza Tedrus
• Grantee: Isabel Montagner Pinto Ricardo
• Host Institution: Escola de Ciências da Vida (ECV). Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-CAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epilepsy is a syndrome more frequent in the elderly, has a higher occurrence in poor and developing countries, and presents clinical variables different from those observed in younger adults. Objective: To evaluate the clinical and cognitive variables and prognostic characteristics of elderly people with epilepsy according to age at seizure onset (< and ¿ 60 years). Methodology: A prospective study will be carried out at the clinical neurology outpatient clinic of the PUC-Campinas Hospital (Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil). 60 patients with epilepsy and aged ¿ 60 years will be consecutively included, composing two groups: group 1: 30 cases with epileptic seizures of onset < 60 years; and group 2: 30 cases with seizures of onset ¿ 60 years. Patients will undergo routine EEG, and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Brief Cognitive Battery (BCB-Edu) and Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (BMQ). Clinical-EEG variables and data from the AIS, MMSE, BCB-Edu and BMQ instruments will be compared between the groups (1 v.s. 2). Statistical tests appropriate to the situations will be used, with a significance level of p< 0.05. Expected results: There are still few studies of epilepsy in the elderly in the literature, and national casuistries are rare, so we believe that we can contribute with relevant scientific data in the area. It is expected that when evaluating clinical and cognitive aspects in the elderly according to the onset of seizures (< and ¿ 60 years), it is expected to provide data on possible prognostic differences regarding seizure control, the presence of adverse/side effects of medications, and cognitive aspects between the groups. (AU)