title: Cognitive outcomes of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery in older patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the cognitive risks of temporal lobe surgery in patients aged 50 years and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed data from 55 patients who underwent temporal lobe surgery (26 left-sided:29 right sided) from 1988 to 2012 at our centre. Pre-surgical and one year post-operative memory and naming capacity were compared to data obtained from two younger cohorts; 185 aged 18-30 and 220 aged 31-49.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-operative memory impairments were most marked for the oldest cohort and were associated with a longer duration of epilepsy. Naming capacity improved with age and better performance was associated with a later age at epilepsy onset. Post-operative declines were largest in older patients, achieving statistical significance for verbal memory, naming and subjective ratings. Left temporal lobe resections carried the greatest risk of memory and naming decline. Cognitive outcomes were unrelated to seizure outcome, VIQ or mood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate the cognitive risks of TLE surgery are greater for older patients. Cognitive outcomes need to be considered when assessing the efficacy of epilepsy surgery in older cohorts and pre-operative performance levels need to be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Epilepsy Society Research Centre, Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SL9 0RJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: pamela.thompson@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Epilepsy Society Research Centre, Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SL9 0RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Baxendale
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Epilepsy Society Research Centre, Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SL9 0RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013067:Speech Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive outcome; Elderly; Epilepsy surgery; Memory; Temporal lobe epilepsy