ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting intellectual and memory changes following anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: The sample consisted of 31 patients who underwent ATL for treatment of medically intractable TLE. All patients were administered intellectual and memory tests preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: All statistically significant intellectual and memory changes at 1-year follow-up were in the direction of improvement. Left vs. right ATL had significantly differential effects on verbal intelligence and verbal memory, reflecting greater decline (or less improvement) following a left ATL. A later onset age of seizures, an older age at surgery, and a higher presurgical cognitive performance predicted a greater cognitive decline following an ATL. CONCLUSIONS: At 1-year after ATL, most cognitive functions showed either no significant changes or significant changes in a favorable direction. Decreased verbal functions following a left ATL was the area of greatest potential neuropsychological morbidity associated with ATL. Greater cognitive decline following ATL was predicted by later onset age of recurrent seizures, older age at time of surgery, and higher presurgical cognitive performance.