Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
09:57

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization

Published on: September 20, 2024

3.8K

The role of executive functioning in quality of life in pediatric intractable epilepsy

Christina Eguizabal Love1, Frank Webbe1, Gunha Kim2

  • 1Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Psychology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|October 12, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children with epilepsy and executive dysfunction experience lower quality of life. Identifying executive dysfunction is crucial for interventions to improve QOL in pediatric epilepsy.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Children with epilepsy often face executive dysfunction (EF).
  • The link between EF and quality of life (QOL) in pediatric epilepsy requires further exploration.
  • This study investigates ecological EF and QOL in children with intractable epilepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the relationship between executive functioning and quality of life in pediatric intractable epilepsy.
  • To determine if executive dysfunction impacts QOL in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-four pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates and their parents participated.
  • Evaluations included IQ measures, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE).

Main Results:

  • Children with executive dysfunction showed significantly lower QOL.
  • Executive dysfunction increased the risk of poor QOL by 9.7 times.
  • Working memory was the most commonly impaired EF scale (57%).

Conclusions:

  • Poor executive functioning is linked to reduced QOL in pediatric intractable epilepsy.
  • Identifying executive dysfunction is vital for presurgical evaluations and interventions.
  • Targeting EF deficits may enhance QOL for children with epilepsy.
Abstract

Keywords:
CognitionEpilepsyExecutive functionPediatricQuality of life

More Related Videos

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

12.9K
Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes12:10

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes

Published on: October 2, 2014

11.9K

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
1.6K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
1.1K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.6K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
895
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
695
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
1.1K