Brain diffusion tensor imaging reveals altered connections and networks in epilepsy patients

Wang, Meixia; Cheng, Xiaoyu; Shi, Qianru; Xu, Bo; Hou, Xiaoxia; Zhao, Huimin; Gui, Qian; Wu, Guanhui; Dong, Xinghui; Xu, Qinrong; Shen, Mingqiang; Cheng, Qian; Xue, Shouru; Feng, Huijin; Ding, Zhiliang

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1142408

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 46 publications

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“…Notably, individuals with epilepsy demonstrated diminished global and local brain network properties through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis. And the white matter fiber connectivity in crucial brain regions was also reduced ( Wang et al, 2023 ). Furthermore, evidence suggests that thyroid disorder has an impact on global brain connectivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thyroid function and epilepsy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Lu,

Wang,

Yang

et al. 2024

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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BackgroundThyroid hormones (THs) play a crucial role in regulating various biological processes, particularly the normal development and functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder with multiple etiologies. Further in-depth research on the role of thyroid hormones in epilepsy is warranted.MethodsGenome-wide association study (GWAS) data for thyroid function and epilepsy were obtained from the ThyroidOmics Consortium and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Consortium cohort, respectively. A total of five indicators of thyroid function and ten types of epilepsy were included in the analysis. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to investigate potential causal relations between thyroid functions and various epilepsies. Multiple testing correction was performed using Bonferroni correction. Heterogeneity was calculated with the Cochran’s Q statistic test. Horizontal pleiotropy was evaluated by the MR-Egger regression intercept. The sensitivity was also examined by leave-one-out strategy.ResultsThe findings indicated the absence of any causal relationship between abnormalities in thyroid hormone and various types of epilepsy. The study analyzed the odds ratio (OR) between thyroid hormones and various types of epilepsy in five scenarios, including free thyroxine (FT4) on focal epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (IVW, OR = 0.9838, p = 0.02223), hyperthyroidism on juvenile absence epilepsy (IVW, OR = 0.9952, p = 0.03777), hypothyroidism on focal epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (IVW, OR = 1.0075, p = 0.01951), autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) on generalized epilepsy in all documented cases (weighted mode, OR = 1.0846, p = 0.0346) and on childhood absence epilepsy (IVW, OR = 1.0050, p = 0.04555). After Bonferroni correction, none of the above results showed statistically significant differences.ConclusionThis study indicates that there is no causal relationship between thyroid-related disorders and various types of epilepsy. Future research should aim to avoid potential confounding factors that might impact the study.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thyroid function and epilepsy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Lu,

Wang,

Yang

et al. 2024

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Brain imaging traits and epilepsy: Unraveling causal links via mendelian randomization

Li,

Tang,

Hao

et al. 2024

Brain and Behavior

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BackgroundEpilepsy, a complex neurological disorder, is closely linked with structural and functional irregularities in the brain. However, the causal relationship between brain imaging‐derived phenotypes (IDPs) and epilepsy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate this relationship by employing a two‐sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.MethodsThe analysis involved 3935 cerebral IDPs from the UK Biobank and all documented cases of epilepsy (all epilepsies) cohorts from the International League Against Epilepsy, with further validation through replication and meta‐analyses using epilepsy Genome‐Wide Association Studies datasets from the FinnGen database. Additionally, a multivariate MR analysis framework was utilized to assess the direct impact of IDPs on all epilepsies. Furthermore, we performed a bidirectional MR analysis to investigate the relationship between the IDPs identified in all epilepsies and the 15 specific subtypes of epilepsy.ResultsThe study identified significant causal links between four IDPs and epilepsy risk. Decreased fractional anisotropy in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus was associated with a higher risk of epilepsy (odds ratio [OR]: 0.89, p = 3.31×10−5). Conversely, increased mean L1 in the left posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) was independently associated with a heightened epilepsy risk (OR: 1.14, p = 4.72×10−5). Elevated L3 in the left cingulate gyrus was also linked to an increased risk (OR: 1.09, p = .03), while decreased intracellular volume fraction in the corpus callosum was correlated with higher epilepsy risk (OR: 0.94, p = 1.15×10−4). Subtype analysis revealed that three of these IDPs are primarily associated with focal epilepsy (FE). Notably, increased L1 in the left PTR was linked to an elevated risk of hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and lesion‐negative FE, whereas elevated L3 in the left cingulate gyrus was associated with HS‐related FE.ConclusionsOur research offers genetic evidence for a causal link between brain IDPs and epilepsy. These results enhance our understanding of the structural brain changes associated with the onset and progression of epilepsy.

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The association between structural connectivity and anti‐seizure medication response in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Lee,

Ko,

Kim

et al. 2024

Epilepsia Open

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ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the differences in structural connectivity and glymphatic system function between patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and healthy controls. Additionally, we analyzed the association between structural connectivity, glymphatic system function, and antiseizure medication (ASM) response.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled patients with TLE and HS and healthy controls who underwent diffusion tensor imaging at our hospital. We assessed structural connectivity in patients with TLE and HS and healthy controls by calculating network measures using graph theory and evaluated glymphatic system function using the diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI‐ALPS) index. Patients with TLE and HS were categorized into two groups: ASM poor and good responders.ResultsWe enrolled 55 patients with TLE and HS and 53 healthy controls. Of the 55 patients with TLE and HS, 39 were ASM poor responders, and 16 were ASM good responders. The assortativity coefficient in patients with TLE and HS was higher than that in healthy controls (0.004 vs. −0.007, p = 0.004), and the assortativity coefficient in ASM poor responders was lower than that in ASM good responders (−0.001 vs. −0.197, p = 0.003). The DTI‐ALPS index in patients with TLE and HS was lower than that in healthy controls (1.403 vs. 1.709, p < 0.001); however, the DTI‐ALPS index did not differ between ASM poor and good responders (1.411 vs. 1.385, p = 0.628). The DTI‐ALPS index had a significant negative correlation with age in patients with TLE and HS (r = −0.267, p = 0.049).SignificanceWe confirmed increased assortativity coefficient in structural connectivity and decreased DTI‐ALPS index in patients with TLE and HS compared with healthy controls. Additionally, we demonstrated an association between decreased assortativity coefficient in structural connectivity and ASM poor response in patients with TLE patients and HS.Plain Language SummaryThis study investigates the relationship between brain connectivity changes and glymphatic system function with antiseizure medication response in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis. The research reveals that these patients show altered brain connectivity and glymphatic function compared to healthy individuals. A key finding is the strong link between a specific connectivity measure (assortativity coefficient) and antiseizure medication response, providing valuable insights that could influence epilepsy treatment and future research directions.

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Brain diffusion tensor imaging reveals altered connections and networks in epilepsy patients

Cited by 8 publications

References 46 publications

Thyroid function and epilepsy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Thyroid function and epilepsy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Brain imaging traits and epilepsy: Unraveling causal links via mendelian randomization

The association between structural connectivity and anti‐seizure medication response in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

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