title: Transient Epileptic Amnesia over twenty years: Long-term follow-up of a case series with three detailed reports.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transient Epileptic Amnesia (TEA) is a form of adult onset temporal lobe epilepsy characterised by ictal amnesia. The amnesic seizures are often accompanied by interical memory disturbance, involving autobiographical amnesia and accelerated long-term forgetting. Short-term follow-up studies suggest a relatively stable cognitive profile once treated, but recent case reports raise concerns regarding the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The current study reports clinical and cognitive outcome in TEA patients over a 20-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of ten TEA patients first reported in 1998 were followed up at two time intervals, each 10 years apart. Information regarding clinical outcomes and subjective reports of memory functioning was gained via GP records and clinical interview. Objective memory function was determined at each time point via a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, where possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information was obtained for nine of the original 10 participants. Over the 20-year period, 4 participants died, with no indication of dementia prior to death. One participant was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. Seizures were generally well controlled. Subjective reports of memory varied, including no concerns, stable memory difficulties, and worsening memory. Neuropsychological assessment at 10 years showed stable performances across most measures. At the 20-year follow up, there was no evidence of a general cognitive decline. Participants showed stability on some measures, with reductions on others. Performance was not consistent with AD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No elevated risk of dementia was evident from this TEA series. Although memory difficulties persist over time, the prognosis of TEA appears generally benign.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive & Behavioural Neurology, University of Exeter Medical School, College House, St. Luke's Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK. Electronic address: s.a.savage@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, PO Box 1165, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Cognitive & Behavioural Neurology, University of Exeter Medical School, College House, St. Luke's Campus, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
authors.forename: Adam Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Zeman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000647:Amnesia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Longitudinal study; Memory impairment; Prognosis; Transient Epileptic Amnesia