# Treatment Strategies in Geriatric Epilepsy

> **NIH NIH K08** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $168,480

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
 Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are at high risk for both developing
epilepsy and complications associated with its diagnoses and treatments. Of the 5.4 million Americans with
Alzheimer's, nearly 10% also have epilepsy. Epilepsy is an incurable, life-threatening neurological disorder
characterized by recurrent, spontaneous seizures, which requires anti-seizure drugs that have serious side
effects. Inadequate treatment or inadequate adherence to treatment increases the risk of seizures, disability,
and early death. Twenty-two anti-seizure drugs are available in the US but the management of epilepsy in the
older age group can be complicated by many factors (e.g., development or progression of memory impairment,
drug interactions, adverse events). Ideally, treatments should reduce seizure recurrence with minimal
treatment complications. There is currently a dearth of information to guide initial treatment among the elderly.
 This proposed scientific program aims to examine the impact of available treatments for older patients with
epilepsy, with a special focus on patients who have co-morbid ADRD. The principal investigator (PI) has three
specific research aims: (1) to examine patient adherence to treatment and safety monitoring regimens; (2) to
analyze the impact of anti-seizure drugs on seizure recurrence and treatment specific side-effects; and (3) to
determine the impact of anti-seizure drugs on clinical event rates such hospitalization or nursing home
placement. The PI will use Medicare claims (2006-13) to assess the anti-seizure drugs available to treat new-
onset epilepsy, and exploit recent changes in prescription patterns to examine several outcomes. In particular,
the PI will compare treatment choices and outcomes among beneficiaries with and without ADRD. The PI
proposes a career development program that includes methodological training and mentorship. The PI will
utilize advanced statistical modeling to address the challenges posed by comparative effectiveness research
applied to epilepsy care under the guidance of experienced clinician-scientists (e.g., Dr. Bradley Hyman),
biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and health policy scientists. Career development activities will include training
in management and analysis of large datasets, pharmacoepidemiology, causal inference and comparative-
effectiveness analysis. These activities will help prepare the PI to develop a pragmatic clinical trial on the initial
treatment of new-onset epilepsy in the older patients during the award period. The PI will also take courses in
order to effectively translate research findings into improved clinical practice.
 The long-term goal of this career development award is to develop the candidate into an independent
investigator with expertise in clinical and population research and develop the necessary skills needed to
conduct high impact research projects for geriatric patients with chronic neurolog...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9925762
- **Project number:** 5K08AG053380-04
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Lidia Maria Veras Rocha de Moura
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $168,480
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9925762

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9925762, Treatment Strategies in Geriatric Epilepsy (5K08AG053380-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9925762. Licensed CC0.

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