The impact of paediatric epilepsy and co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders on functional brain networks in wake
Leandro Junges1,2, Daniel Galvis1,2, Alice Winsor3,4,5
1Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Insights
This study reveals that brain network patterns in children with epilepsy differ during wakefulness and sleep. These patterns correlate with neurodevelopmental traits, emphasizing the link between epilepsy and conditions like autism and ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Epilepsy is a common childhood neurological disorder, often co-occurring with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD.
- Diagnosing epilepsy in children presents significant challenges, further complicated by these comorbidities.
- Functional brain networks derived from neuroimaging and electrophysiological data show potential for identifying neurological disorders and managing co-occurring conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain connectivity networks in children using electroencephalography (EEG).
- To explore the relationship between these network markers, epilepsy diagnosis, and neurodevelopmental traits (autism, ADHD).
- To identify differences in network markers between children with and without epilepsy and their correlation with neurodevelopmental measures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from children during wakefulness and sleep.
- Extracted functional connectivity networks across different frequency bands.
- Analyzed network differences related to epilepsy and correlated them with neurodevelopmental trait measures from screening questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct functional brain network markers associated with epilepsy in children.
- Found significant correlations between these network markers and measures of neurodevelopmental traits, including those related to autism and ADHD.
- Observed differences in network markers between epileptic and non-epileptic children during both wake and sleep states.
Conclusions:
- Functional brain networks derived from EEG are sensitive to epilepsy in children.
- The interplay between epilepsy and neurodevelopmental traits influences these network markers.
- Considering comorbidities is crucial for accurately interpreting network markers in pediatric epilepsy.
Abstract:
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in children. Diagnosing epilepsy in children can be very challenging, especially as it often coexists with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD. Functional brain networks obtained from neuroimaging and electrophysiological data in wakefulness and sleep have been shown to contain signatures of neurological disorders, and can potentially support the diagnosis and management of co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions. In this work, we use electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from children, in restful wakefulness and sleep, to extract functional connectivity networks in different frequency bands. We explore the relationship of these networks with epilepsy diagnosis and with measures of neurodevelopmental traits, obtained from questionnaires used as screening tools for autism and ADHD. We explore differences in network markers between children with and without epilepsy in wake and sleep, and quantify the correlation between such markers and measures of neurodevelopmental traits. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the interplay between epilepsy and neurodevelopmental traits when exploring network markers of epilepsy.
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