“A recent study found that epileptic seizures occur more often in people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) than was previously thought. This finding improves our understanding of FTD symptoms and highlights the need to consider seizures when treating and monitoring these patients.”

A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Oulu found that epileptic seizures were significantly more common in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) than previously known.

The research, coordinated by Neurocenter Finland, examined the prevalence of epilepsy in FTD patients and showed that epilepsy was much more frequent than earlier estimates.

The study analyzed patient data from the university hospitals of Kuopio and Oulu collected between 2010 and 2021. It identified 245 patients with FTD and 1,326 patients with Alzheimers disease and also looked at epilepsy rates in healthy controls. Epilepsy appeared in some FTD patients up to ten years before their dementia diagnosis. It was more common at all stages of the disease compared to previous international reports. The prevalence of epilepsy increased over time, and about 11% of patients had epilepsy five years after their diagnosis.

The study emphasized the need to consider epileptic seizures when treating and monitoring patients with FTD. This research was part of a larger project that combined real-life patient data with unique registers, involving collaboration among the University of Oulu, the University of Eastern Finland, and experts in medicine and law.

(Source:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250603115055.htm)