ONSET OF SEIZURES AS A POOR INDICATOR OF LONGEVITY IN PEOPLE WITH DOWN-SYNDROME AND DEMENTIA

An association between Down syndrome and dementia of Alzheimer type is well established. This study demonstrates that late onset seizures in people with Down syndrome are a strong indicator of a dementing proce ss. Further, late onset seizures in people with Down syndrome may be u sed as a prognostic indicator, indicating life expectancy of less than a further 2 years, probable death within 3 years and death almost inv ariably within 5 years of onset.