Serial visual evoked potentials to flash and pattern reversal stimuli were recorded in elderly patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), multi-infarct dementia (MID) and functional psychiatric illness, and in a group of elderly control subjects. Recordings were made at 6 monthly intervals over a 2 year period. Latency and amplitude of the main components were measured and the flash P2-pattern reversal P100 latency difference value was calculated. In all groups significant changes over time did not occur for any parameters but in the SDAT group the regression coefficient for the latency of the flash P2 component and the flash P2-pattern reversal P100 latency difference was significant, reflecting a trend towards increasing flash P2 latency as time progressed. The flash P2-pattern reversal P100 latency difference was longer in the SDAT and MID groups than in the functional patients, confirming the findings of previous reports. The latency difference in the SDAT group only was significantly greater than that in the control group.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Teaching medical students about epilepsy.

A small study was designed to evaluate three seminars on epilepsy for junior medical students. A self-completion questionnaire on knowledge and attitudes was constructed and administered to case and control students and, as part of a parallel study, to senior medical students, general practitioners, and a sample of patients attending general practice. Students undertaking seminars on epilepsy showed significant improvement in overall knowledge, but not in attitudes. Many students had observed an epileptic seizure before entering medical school, but neither this, nor close acquaintance with persons with epilepsy, appeared to affect their responses. Age appeared to influence knowledge in the sample of general practice attenders, with those aged 30-59 scoring a significantly higher mean score than older and younger subgroups.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epileptic seizures in elderly patients with dementia.

All inpatients aged greater than 55 years with dementia in the Dundee Psychiatric Service were surveyed for seizure occurrence by interviewing staff and reviewing records. Of 208 patients, 19 (9.1%) were recorded as having seizures. The seizures were major in 92% and occurred at a rate of approximately 2.3 seizures per patient per year. Patients with epilepsy were significantly younger than a control group of dementia inpatients and were significantly more cognitively impaired on the survey Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly (CAPE), but not on the Mini Mental State Examination. Of 111 reported accidents, only 5 appeared to be associated with epilepsy. Although epileptic seizures are relatively common in patients with severe dementia, they rarely caused severe problems.

Age Factors↗