title: Memory functioning in children with epilepsy: frontal lobe epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, and benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.
abstract: Specific cognitive deficits have been identified in children with epilepsy irrespective of results on intelligence tests. Memory deficits are traditionally attributed to temporal lobe epilepsy, whereas the impact of frontal lobe epilepsy on memory functions has remained controversial. The aim of this study was the examination of memory abilities in other childhood common epilepsy syndromes (frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), and benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS)) and the influence of epilepsy-related variables. Memory was examined in 90 children with epilepsy (each epilepsy group consisted of 30 children), aged 6-15, and compared with 30 control children. Children with FLE showed significant deficits in verbal and visual memory. In addition, type of epilepsy, earlier age at epilepsy onset, and longer active duration of epilepsy were associated with memory problems. Seizure frequency and treatment, however, did not influence memory performance. This study indicates that children with FLE show greater risk of developing memory deficits than children with CAE or BECTS, thus highlighting the importance of assessing also memory functions in frontal lobe epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, University of Coimbra, Apartado 6153, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal ; Neuropaediatric Unit, Garcia de Orta Hospital, Almada, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Filipa
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1091-1900
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Neuropaediatric Unit, Garcia de Orta Hospital, Almada, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Neuropaediatric Unit, Garcia de Orta Hospital, Almada, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Neuropaediatric Unit, Coimbra Paediatric Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robalo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, University of Coimbra, Apartado 6153, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Simões
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011174:Portugal