Effect of Memantine on Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Epilepsy

Effect of Memantine on Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Epilepsy

Evaluate the efficacy of memantine on improving the cognitive impairment in patient with epilepsy

Epilepsy is a complex disorder, which involves much more than seizures, encompassing a range of associated comorbid health conditions that can have significant health and quality-of-life implications. Of these comorbidities, cognitive impairment is one of the most common and distressing aspects of epilepsy.

Excito-toxicity, mediated by glutamate acting on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the hippocampus, can cause memory dysfunction in epilepsy .

Memantine is a low-affinity voltage-dependent uncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA-type glutamate receptor . It also has antioxidant property and increases production of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with idiopathic epilepsy.
• Normal brain imaging (CT brain).
• Patients on anti epileptic drugs more than 6 months.
• No more than two fits per month.
• Score of Mini mental state examination (10-24), mild and moderate cognitive impairment.
• No other medical disorders.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Progressive neurological diseases.
• Abnormal brain imaging (CT brain).
• More than two fits per month.
• Patients with severe cognitive impairment, score of MMSE less than10.
• Patients with severe medical disorders