Relevant facts of 2023
Research opens door to better understanding of epilepsy in adults with cerebral palsy or intellectual disability
The Aspace Catalunya Foundation continues to bet on scientific research. Thanks to this conviction, a prestigious international magazine, "Epilepsy & Behavior", has published an article called "Risk Factors and Outcome of Epilepsy in Adults with Cerebral Palsy or Intellectual Disability", an article that arose from a study carried out by researchers from 'Aspace Catalunya with patients of this entity.
Most studies had been conducted in the pediatric population, and therefore this research opens the door to a better understanding of epilepsy in adults with these special conditions. Until now, very little was known about the long-term evolution of this disease in this group of people. The aim of the study was to analyze the factors that are associated with the onset of epilepsy, and how it affects the lives of these adults.
The study was carried out based on the analysis of the clinical histories of 306 people with cerebral palsy or intellectual disability. The researchers followed these people for an average of 19 years and identified several risk factors associated with epilepsy; cerebral palsy, spastic subtype, hemorrhagic causes and neuroimaging abnormalities.
A key point is that the clinical severity of cerebral palsy and intellectual disability is related to a greater risk of epilepsy, and to drug resistance. This highlights the importance of adequate medical follow-up for this group of people and the need to develop new treatments.
A key point is that the clinical severity of cerebral palsy and intellectual disability is related to a greater risk of epilepsy, and to drug resistance. This highlights the importance of adequate medical follow-up for this group of people and the need to develop new treatments.
In addition, the study showed that about half of the patients who withdrew antiepileptic treatment experienced a recurrence of seizures, especially in the first months after withdrawal. This recurrence was related to the presence of epileptic activity detected in electroencephalogram recordings.
These findings underline the need to make progress in the detection and treatment of mental disorders in people with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. This would not only improve their quality of life, but also open the door to more personalized treatments and more effective long-term management for those who suffer from epilepsy.
