Epilepsy and Cognition - Abstract
Many patients with epilepsy have some degree of cognitive impairment. The likelihood is increased for patients diagnosed with epilepsy during childhood. Active childhood epilepsy is associated with deficits in working memory, processing speed, and overall global cognitive impairment. In children, cognitive deficits translate into learning disabilities. Many factors influence cognitive function in patients with epilepsy. These include the epilepsy syndrome, the type and frequency of seizures, age of onset, frequency of spikes on electroencephalogram (EEG), and treatment with anti-epileptic
drugs (AEDs). The cognitive impairment depends highly on the pathophysiology underling the seizure disorder as well as the treatment that is used.