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Postle AF, Hogue O, Floden DP, Busch RM. Utility of automated memory measures in identifying cognitive impairment in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2024; 156:109785. [PMID: 38788657 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive impairment is prevalent in epilepsy and often presents at the time of initial diagnosis. This study sought to validate brief, self-administered, iPad-based recognition memory tasks in a sample of patients with epilepsy and to examine their screening utility in identifying patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS The Words and Faces tests were administered to 145 adult patients with epilepsy along with a neuropsychological battery. Correlation analyses examined the convergent and divergent validity of the Words and Faces tests, and a series of logistic regression analyses examined discriminative ability in identifying patients with and without cognitive impairments on neuropsychological measures. Patient performance was compared to that of a healthy control group (n = 223), and the relationship between the Words and Faces test performance and disease-related variables (i.e., antiepileptic medication burden, seizure lateralization/localization) was examined. RESULTS The Words and Faces tests were positively correlated with traditional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological measures of episodic memory, with generally moderate to large effect sizes (r > .40), while correlations between the Words and Faces tests and non-memory measures were generally small in magnitude (r < .30). Patients with epilepsy had significantly lower scores on Words and Faces tests compared to healthy controls, and performance was associated with antiepileptic medication burden and seizure localization. The Words and Faces tests demonstrated good predictive accuracy in identifying any cognitive impairment (concordance (c) statistic = .77) and excellent predictive accuracy (c = .85) in identifying patients with impairments on traditional memory measures. The Words and Faces tests also demonstrated reasonable discrimination for impairments in non-memory domains including executive function, language, attention, processing speed, and visuospatial ability (c = .62 -.70). Importantly, the Words and Faces Immediate Index performed just as well as the Total Score (which included delayed memory performance), suggesting a short version of this measure is sufficient for identifying patients with cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS The Words and Faces tests are valid, computerized tools that can be used to screen for memory and other cognitive impairment in adults with epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abagail F Postle
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Olivia Hogue
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Darlene P Floden
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Robyn M Busch
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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Lozano-García A, Hampel KG, Gutiérrez A, Villanueva V, Cano-López I, González-Bono E. Clinical utility of Epitrack for differentiating profiles and patterns of post-surgical change in memory and quality of life in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2024; 31:464-475. [PMID: 35148237 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2036990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess whether performance in attention and executive functions evaluated with the Epitrack screening tool before surgery can differentiate memory and quality of life (QOL) profiles, and detect different post-surgical change patterns in these variables in patients with epilepsy. METHODS This is a longitudinal study. Seventy-seven patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (mean age = 37.91) underwent a neuropsychological assessment before and one year after surgery. Epitrack, a screening tool that exclusively evaluates attention and executive functioning, was administered in the pre-surgical assessment, and verbal and visual memory and QOL were assessed before and after surgery. RESULTS Patients with impaired Epitrack performance had poorer verbal and visual memory than those with intact Epitrack performance, regardless of the time point (for all, p < 0.0001). They also showed a post-surgical decline in immediate verbal recall (p = 0.04) and discriminability (p = 0.001). Patients with intact Epitrack performance did not exhibit this decline. Epitrack total score significantly contributed to 13 and 11% of the variance of post-surgical changes in immediate verbal recall and discriminability, respectively. Epitrack groups did not differ in QOL profiles or changes, but post-surgical immediate verbal recall improvements were related to post-surgical QOL improvements. CONCLUSION Our findings underline the utility of Epitrack screening tool to detect different patterns of verbal and visual memory dysfunction, as well as to predict post-surgical verbal memory decline in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Patients with lower pre-surgical Epitrack scores appear to be at increased risk for post-surgical memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Lozano-García
- IDOCAL/Department of Psychobiology, Psychology Center, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Kevin G Hampel
- Refractory Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Antonio Gutiérrez
- Refractory Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Villanueva
- Refractory Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Esperanza González-Bono
- IDOCAL/Department of Psychobiology, Psychology Center, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Lozano-García A, Catalán-Aguilar J, Tormos-Pons P, Hampel KG, Villanueva V, Cano-López I, González-Bono E. Impact of Polytherapy on Memory Functioning in Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: The Role of Attention and Executive Functions. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024; 39:423-442. [PMID: 37987193 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim was to examine the effect of polytherapy (i.e., the number of administered anti-seizure medications (ASMs)) on memory, and whether the interaction between the number of ASMs and attentional/executive functioning affect presurgical memory functioning and postsurgical memory changes in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS Two studies were carried out. Study 1 consisted of a presurgical assessment of 125 adult patients, in which attention/executive function (EpiTrack screening tool) and memory were assessed (cross-sectional study). Of them, 72 patients underwent a second postsurgical evaluation, in which memory was assessed (Study 2). Patients were distributed into groups based on EpiTrack performance and number of ASMs. RESULTS The interaction between the number of ASMs and the attentional/executive functioning significantly affected presurgical memory, with patients with impaired EpiTrack performance taking three-four ASMs having poorer scores than patients with intact EpiTrack performance taking three-four ASMs (for all, p < .0001). This interaction also affected postsurgical memory changes, with patients with impaired Epitrack performance taking three-four ASMs having higher postsurgical decline than those with intact Epitrack performance taking three-four ASMs (for all, p < .005). No differences were found in patients taking two ASMs. Furthermore, the number of ASMs was associated with presurgical memory performance and postsurgical memory changes only in patients with impaired EpiTrack performance (for all, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings underline the utility of EpiTrack, together with the clinical information on the number of prescribed ASMs, to corroborate the impact of polytherapy on memory and to optimize the prediction of postsurgical memory changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Lozano-García
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Isabel I, Burgos, Spain
| | - Judit Catalán-Aguilar
- IDOCAL/Department of Psychobiology, Psychology Center, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paula Tormos-Pons
- IDOCAL/Department of Psychobiology, Psychology Center, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Kevin G Hampel
- Refractory Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Service Member of ERN EPICARE, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Villanueva
- Refractory Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Service Member of ERN EPICARE, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene Cano-López
- IDOCAL/Department of Psychobiology, Psychology Center, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Esperanza González-Bono
- IDOCAL/Department of Psychobiology, Psychology Center, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Ferrario R, Giovagnoli AR. Processing speed in temporal lobe epilepsy. A scoping review. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 142:109169. [PMID: 36963317 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impaired processing speed (PS) can affect patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, it is usually considered a nonspecific clinical feature and is not measured, but this raises lexical and methodological problems. This review aims to evaluate the existing terminology and assessment methods of PS in patients with TLE. METHODS A scoping review was conducted based on the extended guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. The electronic literature search was conducted on Medline-PubMed, American Psychological Association-PsycINFO, Elton Bryson Stephens Company, and Google Scholar, using the keywords "temporal lobe epilepsy" and "speed" or "slowing" plus "processing," "cognitive," "psychomotor," or "mental." Peer-reviewed articles published before December 2022 were analyzed if they were in English, including patients older than 14 years and at least one neuropsychological measure, reported original research focused on PS and had the selected keywords in the title, keywords, and abstract. RESULTS Seven articles published between December 2004 and September 2021 were selected. The terms "processing speed," "psychomotor speed," and "information processing speed," based on similar theoretical constructs, were the most frequently used. Assessment methods included non-computerized or paper-and-pencil tests (WAIS-III Digit Symbol and Symbol Search subtests, Purdue Pegboard and Grooved Pegboard Tests, Trail Making Test and Stroop Color-Word Test) and computerized tests (Sternberg Memory Scanning Test, Pattern Comparison Processing Speed, Computerized Visual Searching). In some studies, impairment was associated with white and gray matter damage in the brain, independent of clinical and treatment variables. CONCLUSION Clinical research on TLE has focused inconsistently on PS. Different evaluation terms and methods have been used while referring to similar theoretical constructs. These findings highlight a gap between the clinical importance of PS and its assessment. Studies are needed to share terms and tools among clinical centers and clarify the position of PS in the TLE phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba Ferrario
- Department of Diagnostics and Technology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Giovagnoli
- Department of Diagnostics and Technology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Witt JA, Meschede C, Helmstaedter C. Hazardous employment of invalid measures for cognitive outcome assessment: You only see what your test can show you. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 117:107865. [PMID: 33662843 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.107865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolin Meschede
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
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Associations of individual and structural socioeconomic status with cognition and mental distress in pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 116:107726. [PMID: 33493801 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Epilepsy is often associated with low socioeconomic status (SES). People with epilepsy (PWE) also suffer from cognitive dysfunction and mental distress. In the general population, these constraints are related to individual and structural SES. However, in PWE, cognitive dysfunction and mental distress have been mainly attributed to biological factors such as brain lesions or pharmacological treatment, whereas comprehensive studies on possible social determinants are missing. Here, we study associations of individual and structural SES with cognition and mental distress in PWE. METHODS We retrospectively studied 340 adult patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy from Berlin treated at a tertiary epilepsy center. Individual SES (education, employment, and income), structural SES (social index of district and neighborhood), and their interactions were examined. Associations between social variables and verbal learning, psychomotor speed, and mental distress were analyzed with multiple regression analyses, controlling for demographic and medical variables and intelligence. RESULTS Our sample had lower educational levels and lived more frequently in low SES neighborhoods compared to the general population of Berlin. Thirty percent showed reduced verbal learning, 31% had deficits in psychomotor speed, and 20% revealed significant mental distress. Lower structural SES was related to lower psychomotor speed (ΔR2 = 0.9%) and higher mental distress (ΔR2 = 1.6%). Employment was related to verbal learning (ΔR2 = 0.7%) and psychomotor speed (ΔR2 = 1.2%). Income and education were linked to mental distress (ΔR2 = 5%). Neighborhood and individual SES covered more than half of the explained variance in mental distress. Furthermore, interactions between individual and structural SES were identified. CONCLUSION We confirm cognitive deficits, significant mental distress, and individual and structural social disadvantage in PWE. Our findings indicate that individual and structural SES are related to cognitive and emotional well-being beyond demographic and medical characteristics. As a clinical implication, individual and structural SES should be considered when interpreting neuropsychological findings.
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Helmstaedter C, Sadat-Hossieny Z, Kanner AM, Meador KJ. Cognitive disorders in epilepsy II: Clinical targets, indications and selection of test instruments. Seizure 2020; 83:223-231. [PMID: 33172763 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the second of two narrative reviews on cognitive disorders in epilepsy (companion manuscript: Cognitive disorders in epilepsy I: Clinical experience, real-world evidence and recommendations). Its focus is on the clinical targets, indications, and the selection of neuropsychological test instruments. Cognitive assessment has become an essential tool for the diagnosis and outcome control in the clinical management of epilepsy. The diagnostics of basic and higher brain functions can provide valuable information on lateralized and localized brain dysfunctions associated with epilepsy, its underlying pathologies and treatment. In addition to the detection or verification of deficits, neuropsychology reveals the patient's cognitive strengths and, thus, information about the patient reserve capacities for functional restitution and compensation. Neuropsychology is an integral part of diagnostic evaluations mainly in the context of epilepsy surgery to avoid new or additional damage to preexisting neurocognitive impairments. In addition and increasingly, neuropsychology is being used as a tool for monitoring of the disease and its underlying pathologies, and it is suited for the quality and outcome control of pharmacological or other non-invasive medical intervention. This narrative review summarizes the present state of neuropsychological assessments in epilepsy, reveals diagnostic gaps, and shows the great need for education, homogenization, translation and standardization of instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Helmstaedter
- University Clinic Bonn, Department of Epileptology, Germany.
| | - Z Sadat-Hossieny
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 213 Quarry Road, MC 5979, CA, 94304, USA
| | - A M Kanner
- University of Miami Health System, Uhealth Neurology, 1150 NW 14th St #609, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - K J Meador
- Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 213 Quarry Road, MC 5979, CA, 94304, USA
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Martin RC. AEDs and Cognition: One Small Fish in a Very Large Pond? Epilepsy Curr 2020; 20:196-198. [PMID: 34025227 PMCID: PMC7427167 DOI: 10.1177/1535759720925763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
[Box: see text]
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