Progression of gray matter atrophy in seizure-free patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

ABSTRACTBackground: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common form of dementia characterized by visual hallucinations, cognitive fluctuation and parkinsonism. We aimed to compare the patterns of gray matter atrophy in DLB with those in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normal aging, and to investigate the relationship between atrophy and cognitive measures.Methods: We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to investigate gray matter (GM) loss in DLB (n = 35; mean age = 78.4; MMSE = 20.3), AD (n = 36; mean age = 78.3; MMSE = 19.5) and similar aged controls (n = 35; mean age = 76.7; MMSE = 29.1). T1 weighted MRI scans were acquired at 3 Tesla from all subjects and analyzed using VBM-DARTEL in SPM8. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG).Results: We found reduced gray matter in temporal, parietal, occipital, and subcortical structures in DLB when compared to normal controls. The degree of atrophy was less than that observed in AD. There was significantly more medial temporal lobe atrophy in the AD group when compared with DLB. We did not find a correlation between total CAMCOG score and atrophy, but the CAMCOG memory subscale score correlated with temporal lobe atrophy in both the DLB and combined DLB/AD group.Conclusions: DLB is associated with less gray matter atrophy and relative preservation of the medial temporal lobe when compared to AD. Degree of medial temporal atrophy may be a useful imaging biomarker and our results provide support for its inclusion in the revised consensus criteria for DLB.

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Analysis of Interictal Epileptiform Discharges in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Using Quantitative EEG and Neuroimaging

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2020.569943 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Elaine Keiko Fujisao ◽

Karen Fernanda Alves ◽

Thais O. P. Rezende ◽

Luiz Eduardo Betting

Keyword(s):

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy ◽

Temporal Lobe ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Quantitative Eeg ◽

Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy ◽

Source Analysis ◽

Epileptiform Discharges ◽

Eeg Source Imaging ◽

Mesial Temporal Lobe ◽

Gray Matter Volumes

Objective: Investigate areas of correlation between gray matter volumes by MRI and interictal EEG source maps in subtypes of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).Method: 71 patients and 36 controls underwent 3T MRI and and routine EEG was performed. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used for gray matter analysis and analysis of interictal discharge sources for quantitative EEG. Voxel-wise correlation analysis was conducted between the gray matter and EEG source maps in MTLE subtypes.Results: The claustrum was the main structure involved in the individual source analysis. Twelve patients had bilateral HA, VBM showed bilateral hippocampal. Twenty-one patients had right HA, VBM showed right hippocampal and thalamic atrophy and negatively correlated involving the right inferior frontal gyrus and insula. Twenty-two patients had left HA, VBM showed left hippocampal atrophy and negatively correlated involving the left temporal lobe and insula. Sixteen patients had MTLE without HA, VBM showed middle cingulate gyrus atrophy and were negatively correlated involving extra-temporal regions, the main one located in postcentral gyrus.Conclusions: Negative correlations between gray matter volumes and EEG source imaging. Neuroanatomical generators of interictal discharges are heterogeneous and vary according to MTLE subtype.Significance: These findings suggest different pathophysiological mechanisms among patients with different subtypes of MTLE.

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