Browsing by Subject "ALF"

ALF is an memory impairment in which the temporal lobe epilepsy patient has problems with memory retention during an interval of days or weeks, while performing normally in standardised memory tests. ALF has been found for verbal, visual and autobiographical material, but it seems not to be material specific. ALF is associated with older age and higher intelligence, but its causes are unknown. It seems that hippocampal abnormalities contribute to poor memory retention only 24 hours after initial learning. After this point epileptic discharges seem to be more important contributors. The results are contradictory, however, and it is possible that ALF is associated with abnormalities outside the hippocampal region. Treatment possibilities for ALF are unclear. Seizure control with antiepilectic medication and rehearsal of learned material seem to be the best suggestions in the light of current knowledge.