Breakthrough for Kids with Epilepsy:
Surgery Reduces Seizures and Increases IQ
A study on 50 preschool-aged children with epilepsy who underwent
surgical treatment showed significant improvements on overall
cognitive development and left many seizure-free. Researchers
conducted this study on how children aged 3-7 years old developed
intellectually in the few years following epilepsy surgery.
While those with severe epilepsy are at high risk for significant
mental handicap, data showed that those who became seizure-free
after surgery were able to develop better and may actually
gain some abilities that they did not have before surgery.
“The questions answered in our study have a significant
every day value for counseling parents whether their child
should undergo epilepsy surgery,” states author, Ingrid
Tuxhorn, MD. Twelve months post-surgery, 82% of children showed
stable improvements in development and three children showed
gains of greater than 15 points in IQ. Gains in IQ were only
observed in seizure-free children.
“This study on the long-term cognitive outcome of preschool
children who had epilepsy surgery shows that children with
a shorter duration of epilepsy, more localized etiologies,
and a seizure-free outcome have the best chance for improving
their cognitive function 2-3 years after a successful operation,” adds
Tuxhorn. “The question [now] is to provide data to determine
ideal timing of surgical treatment.”
