Eslicarbazepine and cognition in older patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation of the impact of Eslicarbazepine on cognition in older patients with epilepsy
IRAS ID
230470
Contact name
Arjune Sen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Development Department
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Epilepsy is a common and serious neurological condition. The incidence of epilepsy is already highest in the older population and as the population ages there will be an increasing number of patients developing epilepsy in older age. Choosing the best treatment for older patients with epilepsy is complex. In particular, it is important to avoid drug-drug interactions and worsening of other medical illnesses.
Patients with epilepsy as a whole cite memory difficulties as the greatest concern about their health, often rating this as more worrisome than the seizures themselves. In the older population, who may be more prone to memory difficulties or indeed have dementia as the underlying cause of their epilepsy, it is particularly important to avoid medications that may worsen memory.
Eslicarbazepine is an anti-epileptic medication that was licensed for use in Europe in April 2009. Eslicarbazepine has been shown to be effective and well tolerated in several clinical trials, including trials that have examined people over the age of 65. However, the impact of Eslicarbazepine on memory, particularly in the older population who may be more prone to cognitive difficulties, has not been systematically analysed.
We therefore propose to study patients over the age of 65 years who have been prescribed Eslicarbazepine therapy as part of their routine clinical care to better determine the effect of Eslicarbazepine on memory in this group of patients. Patients will be invited by their doctors to participate in the project. They will then undergo baseline tests of mood, memory and quality of life. These tests will be repeated at three and six months after starting Eslicarbazepine and clinical data will be recorded at these timepoints also.
This project will help to establish whether Eslicarbazepine may be a drug of choice for older patients with epilepsy
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1374
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion