Epilepsy in Mental Retardation

Mental retardation (MR) is a state of developmental deficit, beginning in childhood, that results in significantlimitation of intellect or cognition and poor adaptation to the demands of everyday life. Epilepsy is commonamongst MR patients, being one of the most frequent medical illness experienced. Across MR patients, aprevalence of epilepsy of 26% has been reported though this prevalence increases in line with increasing severityof MR. In some specific MR syndromes particularly high rates of epilepsy are reported; like Rett and Angelmansyndromes prevalence rates for epilepsy of 80% or more are reported.Furthermore, Seizures worsen prognosis in the patients, with lower rates of seizure freedom and high rates ofmultiple AED use, more side-effects and higher treatment costs. Adults with MR and epilepsy have high rates ofmorbidity and mortality (SUDEP. Here we present nature of epilepsy in MR, diagnosis, evidence-basedmanagement and comorbidities of.

Keywords:

Mental retardation , Epilepsy