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Cognitive functioning in community dwelling older adults with chronic partial epilepsy
Roy C Martin1, H Randall Griffith, Edward Faught
1Department of Neurology, UAB Epilepsy Center Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0021, USA. rmartin@uab.edu
Epilepsia
|February 1, 2005
Summary
Older adults with chronic partial epilepsy show cognitive impairments. Antiepileptic drug polytherapy may worsen cognitive dysfunction in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Epilepsy affects older adults, impacting their quality of life.
- Chronic partial epilepsy in older adults requires understanding its cognitive consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cognitive functioning in community-dwelling older adults with chronic partial epilepsy.
- To compare cognitive performance with demographically matched healthy older adults.
Main Methods:
- Neurocognitive function was evaluated using the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Logical Memory subtest (WMS-III), and word fluency.
- Mood was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale.
- Participants included 25 older adults with epilepsy and 27 healthy controls, all over 60 and living independently.
Main Results:
- Older adults with epilepsy exhibited significant cognitive impairments across all tested domains compared to controls.
- Antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy was associated with poorer performance in attention, initiation/perseveration, and memory compared to monotherapy.
- Seizure onset, duration, and AED number did not correlate with cognitive function or mood.
Conclusions:
- Chronic partial epilepsy negatively impacts cognitive function in older adults.
- AED polytherapy presents an increased risk for cognitive dysfunction in this demographic.