title: Verbal memory decline and adverse effects on cognition in adult patients with pharmacoresistant partial epilepsy: a longitudinal controlled study of 36 patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to delineate possible longitudinal cognitive changes in adult patients with a long history of pharmacoresistant partial epilepsy. Thirty-six patients and thirty healthy controls were investigated at baseline. A reassessment was conducted, with median test intervals of 4.8 years for the patients and 3.1 years for controls. A standardized battery was used for assessment of general cognitive level and memory. At baseline, patients performed at a significantly lower level on general cognition, immediate recall of pairs of associated words, and retention of learned words and visuospatial stimuli, compared with controls. Analyses of change over time in the patients disclosed significant verbal memory decline in retention of pairs of associated words. Group comparisons of change over time revealed adverse effects in the performance aspect of general cognition on the patients. Also, group comparisons indicated impaired performance across time for the patients in retention of pairs of associated words and retention of visuospatial stimuli. The adverse effect on memory and general cognition in this patient group over the period was clear-cut when compared with the longitudinal changes in an adequate control group.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Epilepsy Research Group, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andersson-Roswall
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engman
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samuelsson
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sjöberg-Larsson
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malmgren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales