András A. Horváth (Hungary)

National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery Neurocognitive Research Center
Dr. Horvath completed his PhD at Semmelweis University from clinical neuroscience. Currently he serves as the head of the Neurocognitive Research Center of the National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery. He is also involved as a principal investigator in many national and international scientific studies (e.g. Euro- Fingers Study Hungary). He has also worked as a researcher at several international training sites including the NYU Langone Health Center, United States; Hospital Julio Matos, Portugal; University of Libre Brussels, Belgium and ETH Translational Neuromodeling Unit, Switzerland. His major research interest is the physiological background of cognitive impairment and memory decline. He also investigates the impact of sleep changes and epileptic activity on the cognitive performance, mood, anxiety and memory by elderly patients and healthy individuals. He is involved in the education of pregraduate students and PhD fellows at Semmelweis University as an Assistant Professor. He is an external trustee reviewer by many academic societies and international academic journals. He has more than 30 scientific papers, and 60 scientific lectures. He has been awarded with Junior Prima Award, with the Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship and with the Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Young Investigator Award.

Author Of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar
Free Communication

THE ROLE OF EPILEPTIC ACTIVITY IN THE PRODROMAL PHASE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Session Type
Free Communication
Session Name
1770 - FREE COMMUNICATION: Dementia (ID 220)
Date
07.10.2021, Thursday
Session Time
11:30 - 13:00
Room
Free Communication A
Lecture Time
11:30 - 11:40
Presenter
  • András A. Horváth (Hungary)

Abstract

Background and Aims:

Growing body of evidence supports that patients with Alzheimer’s disease have a higher occurrence of epileptic seizures. Recent experiments also postulated that epileptiform discharges might contribute to the pathogenesis of cognitive decline. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of epileptic activity on the cognitive performance and on the progression of cognitive decline in clinical and prodromal Alzheimer patients.

Methods:

We investigated 50 mild Alzheimer patients and 30 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with no history of epileptic seizures. All participants underwent a 24-hour electroencephalography, neurology, neuroimaging (structural and resting state functional MRI) and neuropsychology examination. Patients were enrolled in a 1-year follow-up study with repeated examination protocol.

Results:

Subclinical epileptiform discharges were recorded in 48% of Alzheimer and 33% of MCI patients. Epileptiform discharges were associated with lower performance scores in memory (p<0.001). Epileptic activity also associated with lower hippocampal volumes (p:0.012) and larger extent of disconnection between default mode network and temporal brain structures (p:0.034). Patients with spikes showed 1.3-times faster decline in global cognitive scores than patients without (p<0.001) and higher conversion rate into dementia by MCI patients (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

Epileptiform activity occurs in half of Alzheimer and third of MCI patients who have never suffered epileptic seizures. Epileptic activity associates with lower cognitive performance and impaired structural and functional organization of brain structures. Epileptic discharges accelerate the progression of cognitive decline. Our findings suggest the prominent role of epileptiform discharges in the pathomechanism of cognitive decline in Alzheimer pathology.

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Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar
Free Communication

THE ROLE OF EPILEPTIC ACTIVITY IN THE PRODROMAL PHASE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Session Type
Free Communication
Session Name
1770 - FREE COMMUNICATION: Dementia (ID 220)
Date
07.10.2021, Thursday
Session Time
11:30 - 13:00
Room
Free Communication A
Lecture Time
11:30 - 11:40
Presenter
  • András A. Horváth (Hungary)

Abstract

Background and Aims:

Growing body of evidence supports that patients with Alzheimer’s disease have a higher occurrence of epileptic seizures. Recent experiments also postulated that epileptiform discharges might contribute to the pathogenesis of cognitive decline. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of epileptic activity on the cognitive performance and on the progression of cognitive decline in clinical and prodromal Alzheimer patients.

Methods:

We investigated 50 mild Alzheimer patients and 30 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with no history of epileptic seizures. All participants underwent a 24-hour electroencephalography, neurology, neuroimaging (structural and resting state functional MRI) and neuropsychology examination. Patients were enrolled in a 1-year follow-up study with repeated examination protocol.

Results:

Subclinical epileptiform discharges were recorded in 48% of Alzheimer and 33% of MCI patients. Epileptiform discharges were associated with lower performance scores in memory (p<0.001). Epileptic activity also associated with lower hippocampal volumes (p:0.012) and larger extent of disconnection between default mode network and temporal brain structures (p:0.034). Patients with spikes showed 1.3-times faster decline in global cognitive scores than patients without (p<0.001) and higher conversion rate into dementia by MCI patients (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

Epileptiform activity occurs in half of Alzheimer and third of MCI patients who have never suffered epileptic seizures. Epileptic activity associates with lower cognitive performance and impaired structural and functional organization of brain structures. Epileptic discharges accelerate the progression of cognitive decline. Our findings suggest the prominent role of epileptiform discharges in the pathomechanism of cognitive decline in Alzheimer pathology.

Hide