Journal article
Transient Epileptic Amnesia over twenty years: Long-term follow-up of a case series with three detailed reports
- Abstract:
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Purpose
Transient Epileptic Amnesia (TEA) is a form of adult onset temporal lobe epilepsy characterised by ictal amnesia. The amnesic seizures are often accompanied by interical memory disturbance, involving autobiographical amnesia and accelerated long-term forgetting. Short-term follow-up studies suggest a relatively stable cognitive profile once treated, but recent case reports raise concerns regarding the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current study reports clinical and cognitive outcome in TEA patients over a 20-year period.
Methods
A cohort of ten TEA patients first reported in 1998 were followed up at two time intervals, each 10 years apart. Information regarding clinical outcomes and subjective reports of memory functioning was gained via GP records and clinical interview. Objective memory function was determined at each time point via a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, where possible.
Results
Information was obtained for nine of the original 10 participants. Over the 20-year period, 4 participants died, with no indication of dementia prior to death. One participant was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. Seizures were generally well controlled. Subjective reports of memory varied, including no concerns, stable memory difficulties, and worsening memory. Neuropsychological assessment at 10 years showed stable performances across most measures. At the 20-year follow up, there was no evidence of a general cognitive decline. Participants showed stability on some measures, with reductions on others. Performance was not consistent with AD.
Conclusions
No elevated risk of dementia was evident from this TEA series. Although memory difficulties persist over time, the prognosis of TEA appears generally benign.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 397.3KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1016/j.seizure.2016.10.022
Authors
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Journal:
- Seizure More from this journal
- Volume:
- 43
- Pages:
- 48-55
- Publication date:
- 2016-11-14
- Acceptance date:
- 2016-10-30
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1532-2688
- ISSN:
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1059-1311
- Pmid:
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27886629
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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pubs:664165
- UUID:
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uuid:7276bb59-6b76-43f6-b4f8-ea13296961a5
- Local pid:
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pubs:664165
- Source identifiers:
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664165
- Deposit date:
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2019-07-09
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- British Epilepsy Association
- Copyright date:
- 2016
- Notes:
- © 2016 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from Elsevier at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2016.10.022
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