UCLA researchers develop new test for Alzheimer's seizures

Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles Health have found that specific brain rhythm patterns can predict seizure risk in Alzheimer's disease patients, offering a potential breakthrough in early detection and treatment.

According to a study published in Brain Communications, the research team found that rapid brain signals called high-frequency oscillations occur at rates two to three times higher in Alzheimer's patients than in those without cognitive impairment.

UCLA neurologist Dr. Keith Vossel, who led the study, has previously established that more than 40% of Alzheimer's patients experience silent seizures that can accelerate cognitive decline beyond the 20% who have visible seizures. These were detected through overnight electroencephalography (EEG) and one-hour magnetoencephalography (MEG).  

"Encouragingly, MEG screening for HFOs takes just 10 minutes, offering a practical and efficient way to identify Alzheimer's patients at higher risk of epileptic activity," Vossel said.

The team used magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography to analyze brain activity, with MEG proving more effective at detecting the telltale signals due to its superior signal-to-noise properties. The research revealed that these oscillations appeared more frequently on the right side of the brain in Alzheimer's patients with epileptic activity.

The study builds on Vossel's earlier work, showing that silent seizures, detected through overnight EEG and one-hour MEG monitoring, contribute to faster cognitive deterioration in Alzheimer's patients.

Research data indicated the antiseizure medication levetiracetam suppressed these brain signals when they coincided with epileptic spikes. Previous clinical trials by Vossel demonstrated low doses of this medication can enhance spatial memory and problem-solving abilities in Alzheimer's patients who show epileptic activity.

The research team included UCLA postdoctoral fellow Dr. M.C. Vishnu Shandilya, Dr. Richard Staba from the UCLA Epilepsy Center, and collaborators from the University of California, San Francisco. Their work expanded on high-frequency oscillations, which Dr. Anatol Bragin at UCLA first identified as epilepsy markers.

This study marks the first examination of high-frequency oscillations in neurodegenerative diseases, potentially offering healthcare providers a new tool for early intervention in Alzheimer's treatment.