Temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with distinct cognitive phenotypes. Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jul;96:61-68
Date
05/12/2019Pubmed ID
31077942DOI
10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.04.015Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85065233741 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 35 CitationsAbstract
Neuropsychological assessment is critical for understanding the impact of seizures on cognition and informing treatment decisions. While focus is often placed on examining groups based on seizure type/epilepsy syndrome, an alternate approach emphasizes empirically derived groups based solely on cognitive performance. This approach has been used to identify cognitive phenotypes in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The current study sought to replicate prior work by Hermann and colleagues (2007) and identify cognitive phenotypes in a separate, larger cohort of 185 patients with TLE (92 left TLE, 93 right TLE). Cluster analysis revealed 3- and 4-cluster solutions, with clusters differentiated primarily by overall level of performance in the 3-cluster solution (Low, Middle, and High performance) and by more varying cognitive phenotypes in the 4-cluster solution (Globally Low, Low Executive Functioning/Speed, Low Language/Memory, and Globally High). Differences in cognitive performance as well as demographic and clinical seizure variables are presented. A greater proportion of the patients with left TLE were captured by Cluster 3 (Low Language/Memory) than by the other 3 clusters, though this cluster captured only approximately one-third of the overall group with left TLE. Consistent with prior findings, executive functioning and speed emerged as additional domains of interest in this sample of patients with TLE. The current results extend prior work examining cognitive phenotypes in TLE and highlight the importance of identifying the comprehensive range of potential cognitive profiles in TLE.
Author List
Elverman KH, Resch ZJ, Quasney EE, Sabsevitz DS, Binder JR, Swanson SJAuthors
Jeffrey R. Binder MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of WisconsinSara J. Swanson PhD Chief, Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultCognition
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Language
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Phenotype
