Cognitive impairment affects 40% of adult patients with epilepsy and is associated with mental depression, seizure frequency, and the number of adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs, according to an analysis of a Cleveland Clinic database.
- Adults with epilepsy enrolled in the Cleveland Clinic Knowledge Program Data Registry from January to May 2015 were included in the analysis.
- The patients had completed several assessment scales, including the Aldenkamp–Baker Neuropsychological Assessment Schedule (ABNAS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy questionnaire.
- Since topiramate poses a high risk of cognitive impairment, it was used as the basis for the evaluation.
- 270 of 670 patients (40%) reported cognitive impairment, with PHQ-9 scores, the number of adverse drug effects and the frequency of seizures most closely associated with such impairment., suggesting that these three variables could be used as predictors.
Feldman L, Lapin B, Busch RM, et al. Evaluating subjective cognitive impairment in the adult epilepsy clinic: Effects of depression, number of antiepileptic medications, and seizure frequency. Epilepsy Behav. 2018; 81:18-24.
