Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the relationship between serum homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid and vitamin B12 levels and cognitive dysfunction in children with epilepsy. Methods In this study, 100 pediatric epilepsy patients from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected for observation. The children were assessed for cognitive function using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) and were set up as a cognitive dysfunction group as well as a control group. The general data and serum Hcy, folic acid and vitamin B12 levels of the children in the two groups were compared. The correlation between serum indicators and C-WISC scores was also analyzed. Results Cognitive dysfunction occurred in 24 of 100 children with epilepsy; the duration of disease and type of antiepileptic drugs were significantly higher in the cognitive dysfunction group than in the control group, and the age of onset was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The differences in gender and age between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Serum Hcy levels were higher in the cognitive impairment group than in the control group, and folic acid and vitamin b12 levels were lower than in the control group (P<0.05). C-WISC scores were negatively correlated with Hcy levels and positively correlated with folic acid and vitamin b12 levels. Conclusion The higher incidence of cognitive dysfunction in children with epilepsy may be related to higher Hcy levels and should be prevented by active testing of Hcy levels and supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12.

Key words Homocysteine; Folic acid; Vitamin b12; Childhood epilepsy; Cognitive dysfunction