Duration of epilepsy and cognitive development in children: A longitudinal study.

Abstract

Verbal IQ, though initially spared, drops. The Performance IQ, which may have shown its vulnerability earlier in the course of the epilepsy, shows overall smaller changes. It is suggested that seizures impact synergistically on an affected brain, which leads to progressive cognitive decline. Earlier onset of epilepsy is associated with relatively higher VIQ, larger VIQ > PIQ discrepancies and more decline.

Metrics of brain network architecture capture the impact of disease in children with epilepsy

“…It is worth noting, however, that our findings persisted after adjusting for age of epilepsy onset and, further, there is good reason to question the importance of seizure frequency with regard to measuring the impact of epilepsy on cognitive function (Sherman et al, 2012). It is worth noting, however, that duration of disease has been shown to be a valid marker of the cumulative impact of epilepsy on the brain, particularly as it relates to cognitive function (van Iterson et al, 2014). In a related issue, the question of anti-epileptic medications and their contribution to the overall neurologic morbidity of epilepsy could not be addressed by our retrospective design.…”

“…We used the duration of each patient's epilepsy (measured as the span of time from epilepsy onset to the date of MR imaging) as an index of the overall impact of their disease on the brain (van Iterson et al, 2014). Linear regression (alpha: 0.05) was used to assess the relationship between epilepsy duration and IQ (after accounting for age of epilepsy onset) in our patient cohort.…”

“…Although there is no gold standard to measure these effects, the duration of a patient's disease has been shown to be a meaningful marker of the cumulative burden of epilepsy, particularly with regard to cognitive function (van Iterson et al, 2014). We therefore used the duration of each patient's epilepsy as an index for the overall impact of their disease on the brain.…”

Determinants of developmental progress in pre‐schoolers referred for neuro‐developmental diagnosis

“…Regression in development has been associated with significant cortical visual impairment 13 and some epileptic and chromosomal disorders. 14,15 Regression has also been reported as a presenting symptom in autism, particularly in language and social skills, usually at around 18 months. 16 Factors associated with lower socio-economic environments, such as inadequate cognitive stimulation, growth stunting, iodine deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia, intra-uterine growth restriction, malaria, lead exposure, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, maternal depression, institutionalisation and exposure to societal violence, have all been identified as risk factors that predict slower developmental progression.…”

“…Regression in development has been associated with significant cortical visual impairment and some epileptic and chromosomal disorders . Regression has also been reported as a presenting symptom in autism, particularly in language and social skills, usually at around 18 months .…”