TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive and behavioral impact of the ketogenic diet in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - IJff, Dominique M.
AU - Postulart, Debby
AU - Lambrechts, Danielle A.J.E.
AU - Majoie, Marian H.J.M.
AU - de Kinderen, Reina J.A.
AU - Hendriksen, Jos G.M.
AU - Evers, Silvia M.A.A.
AU - Aldenkamp, Albert P.
PY - 2016/7/1
Y1 - 2016/7/1
N2 - Purpose: The ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly used for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood because of the beneficial effect on seizure reduction. The aim of the current study was to objectively assess cognition and aspects of behavior during the first 4 months of a randomized controlled study in children and adolescents. Methods: Participants from a tertiary epilepsy center were randomized to a KD group (intervention) or a care-as-usual (CAU) group (control). Follow-up assessments on cognition and behavior were performed approximately 4 months after initiation of the KD with a combination of parent report questionnaires and individually administered psychological tests for the children. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study, 28 patients from the KD group and 22 patients from the CAU group. The KD group showed lower levels of anxious and mood-disturbed behavior and was rated as more productive. Cognitive test results showed an improvement of activation in the KD group. Conclusions: This study showed a positive impact of the KD on behavioral and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy. More specifically, an activated mood and cognitive activation were observed in patients treated with the KD.
AB - Purpose: The ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly used for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood because of the beneficial effect on seizure reduction. The aim of the current study was to objectively assess cognition and aspects of behavior during the first 4 months of a randomized controlled study in children and adolescents. Methods: Participants from a tertiary epilepsy center were randomized to a KD group (intervention) or a care-as-usual (CAU) group (control). Follow-up assessments on cognition and behavior were performed approximately 4 months after initiation of the KD with a combination of parent report questionnaires and individually administered psychological tests for the children. Results: A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study, 28 patients from the KD group and 22 patients from the CAU group. The KD group showed lower levels of anxious and mood-disturbed behavior and was rated as more productive. Cognitive test results showed an improvement of activation in the KD group. Conclusions: This study showed a positive impact of the KD on behavioral and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy. More specifically, an activated mood and cognitive activation were observed in patients treated with the KD.
KW - Behavior
KW - Cognition
KW - Epilepsy
KW - Ketogenic diet
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84968830767&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.04.033
DO - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.04.033
M3 - Article
C2 - 27206235
AN - SCOPUS:84968830767
SN - 1525-5050
VL - 60
SP - 153
EP - 157
JO - Epilepsy and Behavior
JF - Epilepsy and Behavior
ER -