Structural brain changes in medically refractory focal epilepsy resemble premature brain aging

Medically refractory focal epilepsy is associated with decreased brain-wide volumetric measures and cognitive function, both of which are also observed in normal aging (Dabbs et al., 2012; Hoppe et al., 2007; Sowell et al., 2003; Salthouse, 2004). Prior studies have noted that epilepsy-related neuroanatomical and cognitive changes are greater than those observed in normal aging and therefore may be conceptualized as accelerated aging (Breuer et al., 2016; Lin et al., 2012; Bernhardt et al., 2009; Helmstaedter et al., 2003).

Source: Epilepsy Research - April 3, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Heath R. Pardoe, James H. Cole, Karen Blackmon, Thomas Thesen, Ruben Kuzniecky, for the Human Epilepsy Project Investigators Source Type: research