Older adults with epilepsy frequently report changes in memory function, with a concern about degenerative disease. However, the precise limit between memory changes related to the effects of longstanding chronic epilepsy and physiological aging on memory abilities is very difficult to specify. Knowledge about characteristics of physiological cognitive aging, its influence on memory test results, and its interactions with clinical variables related to epileptic disease are therefore essential to interpret memory scores. This paper aims at presenting an overview of the different factors that might modulate the developmental trajectory of episodic memory in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. For this purpose, the effects of age on memory in healthy and epileptic persons will be first reviewed with a special focus on episodic memory functions in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. Finally, scientific evidence supporting or not the presence of an accelerated memory decline in patients with longstanding epilepsy will be presented by discussing the interests and the limits of the existing literature. Identifying the best outcome measures to assess episodic memory and understanding the risk factors that might precipitate memory decline are key knowledge to improve the clinical care and quality of life of persons with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy.

患有癫痫病的成年人经常报告记忆功能的变化，并关注退化性疾病。然而，很难确定与长期慢性癫痫和生理衰老对记忆能力的影响有关的记忆变化之间的精确极限。因此，有关生理性认知衰老的特征，其对记忆力测试结果的影响及其与癫痫病相关的临床变量之间相互作用的知识对于解释记忆力得分至关重要。本文旨在介绍可能调节慢性颞叶癫痫发作性发作记忆发展轨迹的不同因素。以此目的，首先将回顾年龄对健康和癫痫患者记忆力的影响，并特别关注慢性颞叶癫痫的情景记忆功能。最后，将通过讨论现有文献的兴趣和局限性来提供支持或不支持长期癫痫患者加速记忆衰退的科学证据。确定最佳的结局指标以评估发作性记忆并了解可能导致记忆下降的危险因素，是改善慢性颞叶癫痫患者临床护理和生活质量的关键知识。通过讨论现有文献的兴趣和局限性，将提供支持或不支持长期癫痫患者加速记忆衰退的科学证据。确定最佳的评估结局记忆的结局指标，并了解可能导致记忆下降的危险因素，是改善慢性颞叶癫痫患者临床护理和生活质量的关键知识。通过讨论现有文献的兴趣和局限性，将提供支持或不支持长期癫痫患者加速记忆衰退的科学证据。确定最佳的结局指标以评估发作性记忆并了解可能导致记忆下降的危险因素，是改善慢性颞叶癫痫患者临床护理和生活质量的关键知识。