Table 3.
Studies investigating cognitive function in AE.
| References | Design | Patients/Controls (n) | Patient Age (sd) | Age of Epilepsy Onset (sd) | Disease Duration (sd) | AED Regimen | Impaired Cognitive Domains | Unimpaired Cognitive Domains | Imaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pavone et al. (109) | C | 16/16 | 9.2 (3.0) | 5.3 (3–8)** | N/A | Mixed | 1. General Cognitive Abilities (IQ) 2. Visuo-spatial Skills 3. Non-verbal Learning and Memory |
1. Semantic Knowledge 2. Verbal Memory |
N/A |
| Henkin et al. (74) | C | 12/20 | 14.4 (1.83) | 7.2 (4–11)* | N/A | Monotherapy (VPA) | 1. Attention 2. Semantic Fluency 3. Verbal Learning and Memory |
1. Dexterity 2. Phonemic Fluency 3. Non-verbal Learning and Memory |
N/A |
| Caplan et al. (110) | C | 69/103 | 9.6 (2.5) | 6.2 (2.5) | 3.5 (2.8) | Mixed | 1. General Cognitive Abilities (FSIQ, PIQ, VIQ) 2. Spoken Language Quotient |
N/A | N/A |
| Caplan et al. (111) | C | 78/102 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Mixed | Same as above | Same as above | N/A |
| Conant et al. (112) | C | 16/29 | 8.0 (1.3) | 4–8 | 13.8 (8.5) | Mixed | 1. Dexterity 2. Attention 3. Phonemic Fluency 4. Executive Functions (Cognitive Flexibility, Planning and Integration) |
1. Processing Speed 2. Semantic Fluency 3. Verbal Memory 4. Non-verbal Memory 5. Executive Functions (Response Inhibition) |
N/A |
| Vega et al. (113) | C | 38/46 | 10.5 (2.3) | 6.9 (2.8) | 3.4 (2.7) | Mixed | 1. Attention | N/A | N/A |
| Tosun et al. (114) | C | 24/28 | 9.2 (2.2) | 7.0 (2.0) | 2.3 (2.2) | Mixed | 1.General Cognitive Abilities (FSIQ, VIQ) | 1.General Cognitive Abilities (PIQ) | SBM |
| D'Agati et al. (115) | C | 15/15 | 11.4 (2.2) | 8.8 (1.7) | 2.7 (1.3) | Monotherapy (VPA) | 1. Processing Speed 2. Phonemic Fluency 3. Semantic Fluency 4. Executive Functions (Task-switching) |
1. Working Memory 2. Verbal Memory 3. Non-verbal Memory 4. Executive Functions (Planning) |
N/A |
| Kernan et al. (116) | C | 31/51 | 9.0 (2.0) | 6.0 (2.0) | 3.0 (2.0) | Mixed | 1. Verbal Learning and Memory (CLVT and Stories) 2. Executive Functions (Cognitive Flexibility) |
1. General Cognitive Abilities 2. Processing Speed 3. Working Memory 4. Verbal Memory and Learning (Doors and People) 5. Non-verbal Learning and Memory 6. Executive Functions (Response Inhibition) |
N/A |
| Jackson et al. (53) | C | 11/72 | 12.2 (3.5) | 11.2 (3.5) | 9.7 (3.2) (months) | Mixed | 1. General Cognitive Abilities (VIQ, PIQ, Spelling) 2. Attention 3. Dexterity 4. Phonemic Fluency 5. Expressive Language (Naming) 6. Working Memory 7. Executive Functions (Problem Solving, Response Inhibition) |
1. Processing Speed 2. Semantic Knowledge (Vocabulary and Reading) 3. Verbal Learning and Memory 4. Executive Functions (Task-switching) |
N/A |
| Masur et al. (117) | L | 446/N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Mixed | 1. Attention | 1. General Cognitive Abilities 2. Processing Speed 3. Semantic Knowledge (Vocabulary) 4. Working Memory 5. Verbal Memory 6. Non-verbal Memory 7. Executive Functions (Cognitive Flexibility) |
N/A |
| Cheng et al. (118) | C | 37/37 | 8.0 (2.3) | 6.2 (1.5) | N/A | Mixed | 1. General Cognitive Abilities 2. Attention 3. Processing Speed 4. Executive Functions (Cognitive Flexibility) |
1. Visuo-spatial Perception 2. Working Memory 3. Verbal Learning and Memory 4. Non-verbal Learning and Memory |
N/A |
| Cheng et al. (119) | C | 35/33 | 7.3 (1.3) | 6.7 (1.3) | 7.0 (7.0) (months) | Drug-naïve | 1. General Cognitive Abilities 2. Attention 3. Executive Functions (Cognitive Flexibility, Problem Solving) |
1. Processing Speed 2. Visuo-spatial Perception 3. Semantic Knowledge 4. Working Memory |
N/A |
Studies are listed in chronological order. Unless specified otherwise, age, age of epilepsy onset and disease duration are reported as mean values in years, or as ranges, if provided in such format by the original reference.
Mean (Range);
Median (Range). C, Cross-sectional design; CVLT, California Verbal Learning Test; FSIQ, Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient; IQ, Intelligence Quotient; L, Longitudinal design; PIQ, Performance Intelligence Quotient; SBM, Surface-Based Morphometry; VIQ, Verbal Intelligence Quotient; VPA, Sodium Valproate. In the “AED Status” column, “Mixed” is given for studies where AED use was not restricted to a single regimen (i.e., monotherapy, polytherapy, or drug-naïve). Kadish et al. (120) outlined a validation of a screening tool for attention and executive function, but did not provide individual subtest scores, hence could not be included in the table.