Epileptic Hippocampus in Alzheimer's Disease

This is a prospective, single-center, open-label, pilot study. Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) who show epileptic activity as part of an overnight EEG from study IRB#21-001603 or as a part of a clinical EEG will be eligible. After informed consent, participants will undergo hippocampal depth electrode placement and full scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings to characterize epileptic hippocampal activity and pathological high frequency oscilations (pHFOs). During recordings, the investigators will determine whether brivaracetam, given intravenously, suppresses epileptic activity/high frequency oscillations. After recordings are completed, investigators will test whether brivaracetam, in oral tablets, improves cognition over the course of 1 year. Participants will include men and women 45-70 years of age who meet criteria for MCI due to AD and mild AD. Clinical diagnoses will be made by a panel of experts. The target enrollment for the 5-year period is 25 participants. The ratio of males to females is nearly equal, given previous experience of the investigators in finding subclinical epileptiform activity in both males and females with AD. The findings may lead to better characterization of neural network dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and identify subpopulations with subclinical epileptiform activity or seizures and cognitive impairments who could benefit from antiseizure therapies. This study also has the potential of advancing our knowledge of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.

If epileptic activity or pHFOs are identified during an overnight EEG from study Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Disease (UCLA IRB#21-001603) or through a clinical study, the investigators will offer the opportunity to be part of this research study. Consenting and study overview will be conducted by the investigators. If accepted into the study, participants will undergo a magnetic resonance venography (MRV), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and a gadolinium-enhanced MRI a couple of weeks prior the hippocampal implantation of one or two depth electrodes. A coagulation blood draw will be collected prior to the surgery during one of the neuroimaging visits. Before the surgical procedure, participants will complete cognitive testing with one of the investigators. The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), Stroop Interference naming, and Virtual Route Learning Test (VRLT) will be collected. If coagulation levels come back normal and the participants are in good health, they will undergo general anesthesia and a neurosurgeon will implant one to two depth electrodes in the hippocampus. A Leksell stereotactic frame will be attached to the head to guide localization and a CT angiography will be collected to guide the surgical procedure. Participants will go to the Intensive Care Unit and spend the night there while their recovery is being monitored.

The next day, a scalp EEG will be placed to record brain activity for six days and five nights in conjunction with the hippocampal depth electrode(s) already implanted. On nights four and five, participants will undergo intravenous administration of brivaracetam to study its effects on hippocampal epileptic activity. Investigators will determine whether brivaracetam 25 mg IV suppresses the number of epileptic events and pHFOs by >50%, which is analogous to preclinical investigations with this drug in AD models. If the 50% suppression is reached, the same dosage will be repeated the following night to ensure reproducibility. If the 50% suppression is not reached, then the dosage of brivaracetam will be increased to 50 mg the following night. On day six, the depth electrode will be removed using local anesthesia. Participants will stay at the hospital one more day for recovery and will be discharged on day seven.

Participants will take brivaracetam twice a day for 1 year and will come back the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year to complete cognitive testing (ADAS-cog, Stroop Interference naming, and VRLT) and receive additional brivaracetam supplies. During the follow-up visits, blood samples will be collected to study plasma biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. Participants will conclude their participation after 1 year.

Inclusion criteria

• Meet research criteria for mild cognitive impairment (Albert et al. 2011) or Alzheimer's disease (McKhann et al. 2011) with high biomarker probability of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology
• Ages 45 to 70
• Epileptic activity and/or pHFOs in temporal or fronto-temporal electrodes
• Willing and able informant who has at least weekly contact with subject
• Mini-Mental State Examination score of 18 or greater and/or Clinical Dementia Rating less than 2. These two examinations will be obtained from their participation in UCLA IRB#21-001603 or will be collected if subjects are referred by a clinician.

Exclusion criteria

• Risk factors for epileptic activity besides neurodegenerative disease
• Concurrent use of antiseizure medications
• Severe periventricular white matter disease
• Clinically significant lacunar infarcts
• Anticoagulant use
• Significant systemic medical illness:

• History of Korsakoff's syndrome
• Alcohol or substance abuse preceding dementia & still present within 5 years of onset
• Untreated vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
• History of head trauma with persistent deficits
• Untreated syphilis
• History of multiple sclerosis or another neuro-inflammatory disorder
• History of vascular or multi-infarct dementia
• Diagnosis of Huntington's disease
• History of normal pressure hydrocephalus
• History of CNS lesions deemed to be clinically significant
• Unresolved or present subdural hematoma
• History of intracerebral hemorrhage
• Systematic liver disease
• Renal insufficiency requiring dialysis
• Encephalitis or meningitis
• Severe white matter disease as defined by a score of 3 on the age-related white matter changes scale
• Lacunar infarcts deemed to be clinically significant
• Cortical stroke
• Respiratory condition requiring oxygen
• Untreated hypothyroidism
• Any other medical condition which is determined by the investigators to potentially create an undue risk for an adverse event
• Use of medications likely to affect CNS functions (e.g., benzodiazepines, narcotics). Patients are allowed to take cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine as long as the dosage is stable for 30 days prior to study entry.