Relationship Between Cognitive Impairments and Serum Orexin Levels in Epilepsy Patients

• Published in: Archives of Epilepsy Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 72 - 77
• Main Authors: Yücel, Zeliha, Uludağ, İrem Fatma, Şener, Ufuk, Sarıteke, Alp, Baysoy, Anıl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Yayinevi 01.09.2024
• Subjects: cognitive; epilepsy; orexin a
• ISSN: 2792-0550; 2792-0550
• DOI: 10.4274/ArchEpilepsy.2024.23097

Objective: Recent studies on neurodegenerative diseases have indicated that Orexin A plays a role in cognitive impairment. Furthermore, animal studies have demonstrated that Orexin A enhances synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of orexin A on cognitive decline in patients with epilepsy. Methods: This study included patients with epilepsy (patient group), including those with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE subgroup) (n=24) and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE subgroup) (n=17), and healthy controls (control group) (n=27), all aged 18-65 years. The Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) visual memory subtest and Oktem Verbal Memory Processes Test (OVMPT) (15-word Turkish verbal learning memory test) were administered to all participants. Serum Orexin A levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean Orexin A level in the control group was 25.84±14.65 pg mL-1, versus 24.57±12.50 pg mL-1 in the IGE group and 23.01±12.86 pg mL-1 in the mTLE group. There were no significant differences in the Orexin A level between any of the groups/subgroups. Moreover, no significant correlation was observed between the Orexin A level, WMS visual memory subtest, and OVMPT scores. Conclusion: Our findings showed no association between the Orexin A level and cognitive impairment in patients with epilepsy. Further studies are needed to clarify the complex role of Orexin A in cognitive function.