Nationwide Mapping Maps Epilepsy Incidence Rates Among Older Adults In The United States

A first-of-its-kind nationwide study has mapped epilepsy incidence rates among older adults successful nan United States and identified cardinal societal and biology factors associated pinch nan neurological condition. Published precocious successful JAMA Neurology, nan study is simply a collaborative effort betwixt researchers astatine Houston Methodist Research Institute and Case Western Reserve University. The study revealed that epilepsy cases among adults aged 65 and older were importantly higher successful parts of nan South-including Louisiana, Mississippi, East Texas and cardinal Oklahoma-compared to different regions.

Epilepsy affects an estimated 3.3 cardinal group successful nan United States, according to nan U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2019, wellness attraction spending connected epilepsy and seizures reached $24.5 billion.

Against this backdrop, nan study's lead investigator, Weichuan Dong, Ph.D., adjunct professor astatine nan Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and adjunct adjunct professor astatine Case Western Reserve University, said nan investigation offers captious penetration into really epilepsy impacts older adults nationwide-revealing geographic patterns that could reshape really communities attack prevention and attraction for this neurological condition.

Until now, we didn't person a nationalist image of wherever epilepsy affects older adults nan most. By applying precocious geospatial mapping to Medicare data, we revealed striking clusters of precocious epilepsy rates crossed parts of nan South - what we telephone nan 'epilepsy belt.' Understanding wherever nan load lies is nan first measurement toward uncovering why and helping communities trim risk."

Weichuan Dong, Ph.D., adjunct professor, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and adjunct adjunct professor, Case Western Reserve University

The study besides recovered that nan astir influential factors linked to higher epilepsy incidence included insufficient slumber (fewer than 7 hours per night), utmost power (more days pinch power scale supra 95 degrees), deficiency of beingness activity, deficiency of wellness security among younger adults (suggesting delayed diagnosis until Medicare eligibility) and constricted entree to a family vehicle. These conditions, often shaped by section environments and socioeconomic status, were much prevalent successful regions pinch nan highest epilepsy rates.

"This is nan first study documenting specified a beardown relation betwixt utmost power and incident epilepsy successful older adults crossed nan U.S., highlighting nan value of ambiance alteration successful emergency preparedness, particularly fixed nan graying of nan population," said Siran Koroukian, Ph.D., professor successful nan Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences astatine Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Using precocious geospatial instrumentality learning algorithms, researchers analyzed information from 4.8 cardinal Medicare beneficiaries betwixt 2016 and 2019. Data sources included nan U.S. Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File and nan Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Alaska and Hawaii were excluded owed to incomplete information from nan Social and Environmental Determinants of Health report.

The study uncovered patterns antecedently invisible successful nationalist data, showing really factors for illustration vicinity slumber habits, power exposure, wellness attraction entree and family conveyance entree tin style wellness outcomes. Other beardown predictors included obesity prevalence and readiness of superior attraction physicians.

Collaborators connected nan study included Alex Cabulong, Long Vu, Hannah Fein, Nicolas Schiltz and Martha Sajatovic from Case Western Reserve University; Sadeer Al-Kindi from Houston Methodist Heart and Vascular Center; David Warner from University of Alabama astatine Birmingham and Bowling Green State University; and Gena Ghearing from Mount Sinai Health System.

This activity was supported successful portion by a assistance from nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of nan U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U48 DP006404-03S7) and nan Center for Family and Demographic Research, Bowling Green State University (P2CHD050959). Additional support was provided by nan Health Systems Management Center Leadership Fund from Case Western Reserve University.