Epilepsy and cognition - A bidirectional relationship?

摘要: Cognitive comorbidities are very common in epilepsy and often seen as secondary to or caused by epilepsy. The implicit sometimes explicit assumption is that (i.e. having seizures) damages the brain thus leads functional deterioration behavioral alterations. This article highlights historical background surrounding this viewpoint which characterized old reports on 'epileptic dementia' fact most cognitive research chronic epilepsies done retrospectively. central question of present whether there a bidirectional relationship between cognition. In regard it essential disentangle what disease symptom. problems exist from onset epilepsy, if not before, impact cognition cannot be discerned without also considering underlying pathology its dynamics. Unraveling etiologies increasingly reveals conditions wherein all symptoms pathological condition. Functional reserve capacities determine outcome treatment. A interrelationship exists behavior, since epileptic activity can affect behavior alter activity. conclusion, an epilepsy-centric unidirectional view being obsolete. Such may even prevent search for treatment etiological factors. Instead practical clinical approach favored according must diagnosed at disease, require separate approaches.