Evaluation of Cognitive Changes and Quality of Life in Patients with Refractory Frontal Lobe Epilepsy before and after Surgery for the Treatment of Epilepsy

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the cognitive functions (memory, executive function, language, and intelligence) and quality of life in patients with treatment-resistant frontal lobe epilepsy before and after frontal lobe surgery. Methods: The present research was a longitudinal study in which patients were followed up one to three years after surgery. The statistical population included all patients with treatment-resistant frontal lobe epilepsy referred to Ayatollah Kashani Center in Isfahan, Iran, who underwent surgery. 24 patients were selected by convenience sampling method, and completed the Wechsler Memory Scale-Third Edition (WMS-III), the Tower Of London (TOL), the Persian Aphasia Naming Test (PNT), the Persian Diagnostic Aphasia Battery (AQ), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R), and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-89) before and after surgery. The data were analyzed using paired t-test in SPSS software. Findings: The rate of seizures after surgery (1.02 ± 0.89) decreased compared to before it (4.29 ± 3.08) (P = 0.001). Compared to before surgery, patients significantly improved in working memory (P = 0.010), temporal performance in language (P = 0.050), executive functions (P = 0.010), intelligence quotient (IQ) function, especially operational intelligence (P = 0.001), and quality of life (P = 0.05) after surgery. Moreover, there was no significant difference between patients' performance before and after surgery in general executive, general memory, and verbal intelligence. Conclusion: Frontal lobe epilepsy surgery has a positive effect on some functions, and does not have any negative effect on some functions at least. Therefore, frontal lobe epilepsy surgery can be a good option for people with treatment-resistant frontal lobe epilepsy. © 2021 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.