Abstract #2331

White Matter Network Abnormalities Are Associated with Cognitive Decline in Chronic Epilepsy

Maarten Vaessen^1,2, Jacobus Jansen^1,2, Marielle Vlooswijk³, Paul Hofman^1,2, Marian Majoie^3,4, Albert Aldenkamp^2,4, Walter Backes^1,2

¹Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands; ²School for Mental Health & Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; ³Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands; ⁴Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Netherlands

The relation between white matter connectivity abnormalities and cognitive decline in chronic epilepsy was investigated using graph theoretical network analysis on tractography derived volumetric structural network. Clustering and path lengths appeared abnormal in epilepsy patients with cognitive impairment and were strongly correlated with IQ and IQ discrepancy scores. These results suggest that epilepsy interferes with structural networks that play a role in cognitive impairment.