2024 Volume 42 Issue 1 Pages 4-10
Cognitive decline and behavioral impairments can lead to reductions in quality of life (QOL) in children with epilepsy. Seizure activities, including frequent seizures and status epilepticus (SE), have been identified as important predictors of QOL. In addition, interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on electroencephalogram (EEG) can lead to behavioral impairments, and thus, may also be an important predictor of QOL. Seizure severity and/or IEDs are, therefore, important QOL-related factors in childhood epilepsy. Brain volumetric studies showed that severe seizures can lead to neuropsychological impairments in association with prefrontal lobe growth disturbances in children with epilepsy. On the other hand, frontal IEDs and secondary bilateral synchrony (SBS) on EEG can be a risk factor for neuropsychological impairments. Behavioral disturbances can be improved in association with a reduction in IEDs in children with frontal IEDs and SBS. Therefore, frontal IEDs and SBS can also lead to neuropsychological impairments in children with epilepsy. These findings suggest that seizure severity and IEDs on EEG may be associated with cognitive decline and behavioral impairments, leading to QOL reduction. Therapeutic management may be desirable to reduce seizures and EEG abnormalities, such as frontal IEDs and SBS, as early as possible to improve QOL in children with epilepsy.
