Brad Kamitaki, MD

Dr. Kamitaki is an assistant professor of neurology at Rutgers-RWJMS. He is from Honolulu, Hawai’i and studied Japanese at Pomona College, followed by the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine for his MD degree. Dr. Kamitaki completed his neurology residency and two-year epilepsy fellowship at NYP-Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. His work aimed at addressing barriers to comprehensive epilepsy care using quantitative and mixed-methods approaches have been funded by the American Epilepsy Society, the New Jersey Health Foundation, and he is currently a Resource Center for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research in Asian and Pacific Americans (RCASIA) pilot scholar. Dr. Kamitaki also serves as the co-director for the Health Equity Thread at RWJMS. 

Project Title: Improving health outcomes for Asian Americans with Co-occurring epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias 

Full Community Brief

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Hospitalization in Older Adults with Dementia and Epilepsy

AUTHORS, AFFILIATIONS
Rose Rasty, Megan Hsu, Marlon Daniel C Coelho, Harrison Clement, Kylie Getz, Brad K. Kamitaki

Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA, Department of Neurology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers University School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This study looked at hospitalization patterns among adults aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementia and epilepsy. Many older adults live with Alzheimer’s disease and
related dementias (ADRD). Some also have epilepsy. Both ADRD and epilepsy increase a
person’s risk of multiple hospital visits. When these conditions occur together, people are even
more likely to be hospitalized.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
There is not a lot of research looking at the number of hospital visits, length of stays, and related
risk factors for people having both of these health issues. Understanding these patterns may help
to improve care and reduce unnecessary hospital visits in communities that may need additional
support.

KEY FINDINGS

• More Frequent and Longer Hospital Stays for Older Adults with Both Dementia and
  Epilepsy
  o Older adults with both ADRD and epilepsy had more hospital visits each year and longer
  hospital stays than those with only ADRD or only epilepsy.
• Unequal Rates of Hospital Visits and Longer Hospital Stays Across Communities
  o Black and Hispanic/Latino adults faced higher risk of hospitalization as compared to
  other racial/ethnic groups, showing ongoing health inequities. Asian American and
  Pacific Islander older adults, combined, had lower risk of hospitalization.
• Epilepsy Increases Health Challenges
  o Epilepsy adds to the medical complexity of dementia, increasing the likelihood of serious
  health events that require hospital care.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
o Improve targeted coordination of care between neurology, primary care, and community
services for ADRD patients who are at high risk and who also have epilepsy.
o Focus on prevention and early intervention for high-risk ADRD patients.
o Provide culturally responsive care and support to caregivers to help reduce disparities