Cognitive impairment and quality of life of people with epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in Zambia.

Cognitive impairment and quality of life of people with epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in Zambia. Epilepsy Behav. 2017 Dec 05;: Authors: Nau AL, Mwape KE, Wiefek J, Schmidt K, Abatih E, Dorny P, Praet N, Chiluba C, Schmidt H, Phiri IK, Winkler AS, Gabriël S, Blocher J Abstract Cognitive impairment and quality of life (Qol) are important to assess the burden of epilepsy and neurocysticercosis (NCC), which are common but neglected in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The aims of this study were to assess cognitive performance and Qol of people with epilepsy (PWE) in Zambia and to explore differences in PWE with and without NCC. In this community based, cross-sectional case-control-study, 47 PWE and 50 healthy controls completed five neuropsychological tests (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Digit Span, Selective Reminding Test (SRT), Spatial Recall Test (SPART), Test Battery of Attentional Performance (TAP)) and a World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire of Qol. Comparisons were made between PWE (n=47) and healthy controls (n=50) and between PWE with NCC (n=28) and without NCC (n=19), respectively, using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Linear Models (LMs) while correcting for confounders such as age, sex, and schooling years, and adjusting for multiplicity. Working memory, spatial memory, verbal memory, verbal learning, orientation, speech and language reception, visuoconstructive ability, and attentional performance were signi...
Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Epilepsy Behav Source Type: research