Systematic Review of Accelerated Long-term Forgetting in Children and Adolescents With Neuropediatric Diseases

Nadine Emanuela Stähli; Sandra Bigi; Sebastian Grunt; Karen Lidzba; Martina Studer

doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200081

Systematic Review of Accelerated Long-term Forgetting in Children and Adolescents With Neuropediatric Diseases

Neurol Clin Pract. 2022 Dec;12(6):e210-e220. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200081.

Authors

Nadine Emanuela Stähli¹, Sandra Bigi¹, Sebastian Grunt¹, Karen Lidzba¹, Martina Studer¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Child Neurology (NES, SB, SG, KL, MS), Development & Rehabilitation, University Children's Hospital, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern; and Department of Neurology (SB, MS), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Switzerland.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) describes the phenomenon of normal learning and memory performance after short delays, but greater forgetting after longer delays, which is not objectified in standardized memory tests. The topic is attracting increasing interest due to its clinical importance. Studies investigating pediatric ALF remain rare, and no systematic review exists.

Recent findings: Based on our systematic literature search, 12 studies were found. Although most studies investigated ALF in children with epilepsy (n = 9), there is also evidence of ALF in children after traumatic brain injury (n = 1) and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (n = 1).

Summary: To date, only a dozen of studies have investigated pediatric ALF. There is evidence that ALF is not an epilepsy-specific disorder, replicating findings of studies with adult patients. Because ALF is missed using standardized assessments, we propose to add delayed time points of testing memory performance.

Publication types

Review