Epilepsy and dementia are two common neurological disorders. In recent years, a bidirectional association has been identified between these two conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms behind this bidirectional relationship remain unclear.
Research Questions
1.To investigate the association between epileptic seizures and the neuropathological development of dementia
2.To examine the impact of seizure control on mortality among dementia patients
3.Investigating the effects of antiepileptic drugs on dementia
Research Objectives
1. Utilise longitudinal follow-up data to assess bidirectional associations between epileptic seizures and dementia development
2. Evaluating mortality rates in patients with comorbid epilepsy and dementia as primary causes of death, along with the impact of antiepileptic drug use on dementia onset
3.Employ multimodal imaging and biomarker analysis to clarify the mechanistic connections between amyloid, tau, and hyperexcitability in the context of Alzheimer’s disease
4. Utilise Mendelian randomisation to investigate causal links between epilepsy management and the progression of dementia, as demonstrated in studies exploring the relationship between ischemic stroke and epilepsy
Scientific rationale: The UK Biobank’s large sample size, detailed phenotypic analysis, genomic data, multimodal Imaging data, biomarker data, and longitudinal associations with health-related data offer an exceptional resource for elucidating the bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and dementia. This yields evidence for the prevention and management of both conditions. These large-scale, comprehensive datasets offer crucial support for the development of precision medicine and play an indispensable role in translating research findings into clinical practice.
