Abstract Details

Title Subjective Memory Complaints and Memory Dysfunction in Epilepsy

Topic Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)

Presentation(s) Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG) Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 126

Objective To assess memory complaints in persons with epilepsy (PwE), and how they correlate with measured cognitive performance and factors that may contribute to memory disturbance including structural brain lesions, epilepsy diagnosis, seizure control, psychiatric comorbidities and demographic factors.

Background Memory complaints are common in PwE and negatively impact quality of life (QoL). However, self-reported memory issues may not equate to actual deficits by formal neuropsychometric testing. Psychiatric comorbidities including depression, anxiety and somatization may worsen perceived memory function despite objectively normal cognitive performance. We investigated the relationship between subjective memory complaints and cognitive performance to determine whether perceived problems are better explained by objective memory impairment or subjective/psychiatric factors.

Design/Methods Survey of epilepsy patients attending the UConn Health Neurology Clinic. Subjective memory was assessed using a Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaire (SMCQ) and cognition with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Psychiatric screening instruments included PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), and QOLIE-10-P (epilepsy QoL). Demographics, epilepsy and psychiatric diagnoses, brain MRI and EEG results were extracted from the medical record after patient consent. The study was approved as exempt research by the UConn Health IRB.

Results 44 patients completed most surveys; 41 had MOCA tests. Mean SMCQ was higher in patients older than 40 and lower in patients with primary generalized epilepsies but did not differ by sex, MRI or EEG findings. SMCQ correlated with GAD7, PHQ9 and QOLIE-10P scores. SMCQ, GAD7, PHQ9 and QOLIE-10P did not correlate with MOCA score, nor was MOCA score different based on age, sex, MRI or EEG findings. MOCA was higher in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic spells than epilepsy patients, though SMCQ did not differ.

Conclusions Subjective memory complaints correlate with scales of anxiety, depression and quality of life but are unrelated to objective cognitive performance. Treatment of memory complaints should focus on comorbid psychiatric conditions.

Authors/Disclosures
Kristin Bumsch (UConn School of Medicine) PRESENTER	Kristin Bumsch has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Marie C. Eugene, DO, MSHPE, FAAN (University of Connecticut Health Center)	Dr. Eugene has nothing to disclose.
Jose A. Montes-Rivera, MD, FAAN (UConn Health)	Dr. Montes-Rivera has nothing to disclose.
Mason Leeman-Markowski, MD (University of Connecticut)	Dr. Leeman-Markowski has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
L J. Greenfield, Jr., MD, PhD, FAAN (UConn Health Center)	Dr. Greenfield has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.

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