Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain caused by death of certain brain cells, which leads to muscle tremors, rigidity or stiffness, impaired movement balance and coordination problems. A first report of a medical case suggesting an association between Parkinson's disease and epilepsy was first published almost 100 years ago. Epilepsy is a brain disorder leading to sudden changes in behaviour and to involuntary movements, so-called epileptic seizures. Since then, several reports and small studies have reported that patients with Parkinson's disease may have less epilepsy than the general population, but this has been challenged by more recent reports. In this study, we aim to compare the number of patients with new-onset epileptic seizures between patients with or without Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, we aim to explore the role of lifestyle parameters, co-medication, and other diseases known to be associated with epileptic seizures between patients with new-onset epileptic seizures and individuals who do not develop epileptic seizures.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. The pathophysiology of PD is not yet fully understood. Death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, degeneration of other neurotransmitter systems and cell loss in other brain stem nuclei and in the cortex are considered as major causes of both motor and non-motor symptoms. In 1928, an inverse relationship between the evolution of newly diagnosed Parkinsonism (a syndrome characterised by bradykinesia, tremor at rest, rigidity and postural instability) and the number of seizures was first described among patients with epilepsy. Since that time, the topic has remained controversial (1-4). In this observational study, we aim to quantify crude incidence rates (IRs) of epileptic seizures among patients with incident PD and among a matched comparison group of individuals without PD, and to assess an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of epileptic seizures in patients with or without PD. In nested case-control analyses embedded in these cohorts, we aim to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of seizure-provoking lifestyle parameters, co-medication and comorbidities among cases with epileptic seizures and matched controls.
Epileptic seizure
- Epilepsy
- Status epilepticus
Christoph Meier - Chief Investigator - University of Basel
Marlene Rauch - Corresponding Applicant - University of Basel
Claudia Becker - Collaborator - University of Basel
Katharina Gruntz - Collaborator - University of Basel
Stephan Ruegg - Collaborator - University of Basel
Susan Jick - Collaborator - BCDSP - Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program