Introduction to Cognitive Side Effects
Cognitive side effects are significant issues in antiepileptic pharmacotherapy.
Risk increases with rapid titration, higher doses, and polytherapy.
Few studies assess the objective cognitive performance effects of total medication load.
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients
The study involved 834 patients, with a mean age of 39.6 years.
Patients were treated with 0-5 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
Diverse epilepsy types and medication distributions were noted.
Cognitive Assessment Methods
Cognitive performance was evaluated using the EpiTrack® tool.
The assessment focused on executive functions, attention, and memory.
Sub-tests measured variables such as visual-motor speed and word fluency.
Statistical Analysis of Results
Statistical evaluations included Pearson correlations and ANOVA.
The mean AED count was 2.2 with a total defined daily dose (DDD) of 2.7.
A strong correlation was found between AED count and cognitive scores.
Findings and Implications
Increased AED count negatively impacted executive functions and memory.
Polytherapy showed stronger cognitive performance correlations than DDD.
Use of AEDs with positive cognitive profiles may mitigate negative effects.
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