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Decreased Cognitive Function in Danish Children with Epilepsy
Laura Bogut1, Kaja Andersen1, Judy Grejsen1
1Department of Neuropediatrics, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Insights
Children with epilepsy show impaired cognitive function compared to healthy peers. The EpiTrack Junior tool identified lower cognitive scores in epilepsy patients, particularly those with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Children with epilepsy face a higher risk of cognitive impairment.
- EpiTrack Junior is a validated screening tool for assessing cognitive function in children with epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cognitive function between healthy Danish children and Danish children with epilepsy using EpiTrack Junior.
- To investigate potential associations between cognitive function, seizure types, and antiepileptic drug treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 204 healthy controls (ages 6-16) and 90 children/adolescents with epilepsy (ages 6-20).
- Cognitive function was assessed using the EpiTrack Junior screening tool.
- Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistics.
Main Results:
- Epilepsy patients scored significantly lower on three subtests and total scores compared to controls (p<0.05).
- A higher proportion of epilepsy patients exhibited "below average" or "poor" scores.
- Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) were associated with higher EpiTrack Junior scores (p=0.035).
- No significant association was found between cognitive scores and antiepileptic drug treatment or focal seizures.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a link between childhood epilepsy and impaired cognitive function.
- EpiTrack Junior effectively differentiates cognitive performance between healthy children and those with epilepsy.
- GTCS may be associated with specific cognitive performance patterns, while focal seizures and medication did not show a significant correlation.
Objective:
Children with epilepsy have a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment. EpiTrack Junior is a screening tool developed for fast assessment of cognitive function in children with epilepsy. The tool is validated for German children. This cohort study aims to investigate the differences in cognitive function between healthy Danish children and Danish children diagnosed with epilepsy METHODS: The cognitive function of 204 healthy controls and 90 children and adolescents diagnosed with epilepsy was examined using EpiTrack Junior. The participants of the control group were aged 6 to 16 years. The patients were aged 6 to 20 years. Statistical analyses were performed with the use of SPSS Statistics.
Results:
The control group showed significantly higher scores than the patient group in three of six subtests and total test scores (p-values ranging from 0.033 to <0.001). When grouped according to the EpiTrack Junior guidelines, more patients showed scores "below average" or "poor" compared to the control group. The age-corrected total score was not associated with antiepileptic drug treatment (p-value of 0.732) nor with a history of focal seizures (p-value of 0.215). A history of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) was associated with a higher EpiTrack Junior score (p-value of 0.035).
Conclusion:
The patient group showed statistically significant lower test scores compared to the control group confirming the relationship between impaired cognitive function and childhood epilepsy. Furthermore, a correlation between a higher EpiTrack Junior score and the presence of GTCS was found. Focal seizures and antiepileptic drug treatment were not associated with the EpiTrack Junior score.
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