Understanding Late-Onset Epilepsy and its Link to Memory Decline
The Contribution of Late Onset Unexplained Epilepsy to Cognitive Decline and its Interaction with Vascular and Alzheimer's Disease Pathologies
This project looks at how unexplained seizures starting later in life might affect memory and thinking skills in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098711 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many older adults experience seizures without a clear cause, which we call Late Onset Unexplained Epilepsy (LOUE). This project aims to understand if these seizures are connected to common age-related brain changes, like those seen in Alzheimer's disease or small strokes. We will use MRI scans and blood tests to look for these changes in people with LOUE. By following participants over three years, we hope to see if LOUE leads to faster memory decline and brain changes. This will help us find ways to prevent or treat these issues in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults, aged 65 and above, who have experienced unexplained seizures later in life.
Not a fit: Patients whose seizures have a known cause or who are not experiencing cognitive decline may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to identify, prevent, and treat cognitive decline in older adults who experience unexplained seizures.
How similar studies have performed: While large databases have shown a link between LOUE and dementia risk, individual patient studies on the underlying factors and natural history have been limited, making this approach novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkis, Rani — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sarkis, Rani
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.