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Abstract #4141

Loss of Functional Network Efficiency is Associated with Cognitive Decline in Cryptogenic Epilepsy

Maarten Vaessen1,2, Marielle Vlooswijk2,3, Jacobus Jansen1,2, Marc de Krom3, Marian Majoie3,4, Paul Hofman1,2, Albert Aldenkamp3,4, Walter Backes1,2

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 nature of cognitive difficulties in chronic epilepsy ranges from circumscribed memory deficits to global intellectual decline. With functional connectivity MRI and graph theoretical network analysis, the topology of the whole cerebral network can be investigated. To study the relation between possibly altered whole brain topology and intellectual decline in chronic epilepsy, a combined study of neurocognitive assessment, and fMRI with graph theoretical network analysis was performed.