Association of EEG-assessed phase lag index with cognitive dysfunction and seizure occurrence in children with
Wuhui Nie1, Weike Liu1, Mingming Sun1
1Department of Pediatric, Qingdao Chengyang District People's Hospital Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China.
Insights
Abnormal Phase Lag Index (PLI) on EEG in children with epilepsy is linked to cognitive decline and increased seizure activity. This EEG biomarker may aid in assessing epilepsy progression and guiding personalized treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Epilepsy in children presents complex challenges in cognitive assessment and seizure management.
- Understanding the underlying neuropathophysiology is crucial for effective therapeutic interventions.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) offers insights into brain function, but advanced analytical techniques are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between EEG-assessed Phase Lag Index (PLI) and cognitive dysfunction in pediatric epilepsy.
- To determine the relationship between EEG-assessed PLI and seizure occurrence (frequency, duration, severity) in children with epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 117 children (4-16 years) with epilepsy.
- EEG signals analyzed for Phase Lag Index (PLI) and coherence across brain regions.
- Participants grouped into Normal PLI and Abnormal PLI categories.
- Cognitive function assessed using standardized tests; seizure occurrence documented via clinical parameters.
Main Results:
- Children with abnormal PLI showed significantly higher PLI values across brain regions (P < 0.001).
- The abnormal PLI group exhibited significant cognitive impairments (P < 0.001) and increased seizure frequency, duration, and severity (P < 0.001).
- Statistical analyses confirmed robust correlations between PLI, cognitive dysfunction, and seizure parameters (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- EEG-assessed PLI is a promising biomarker for evaluating cognitive dysfunction in pediatric epilepsy.
- Abnormal PLI is associated with increased seizure occurrence, suggesting its utility in prognostic assessment.
- Findings support the clinical application of EEG-derived biomarkers for personalized epilepsy management in children.
Purpose:
To investigate the association of EEG-assessed Phase Lag Index (PLI) with cognitive dysfunction and seizure occurrence in pediatric patients with epilepsy.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study enrolled 117 children with epilepsy aged 4 to 16 years. Participants were categorized into Normal PLI (n=53) and Abnormal PLI (n=64) groups based on EEG-assessed PLI values. EEG signals were collected using 87-channel Natus Brain Monitor amplifier, and PLI and coherence were calculated for various brain regions. Cognitive function and seizure occurrence were assessed using standardized tests and clinical parameters. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, Spearman correlation analysis, and logistic regression, were conducted to evaluate the associations between EEG-assessed PLI, cognitive dysfunction, and seizure occurrence.
Results:
The Abnormal PLI group exhibited significantly higher PLI measurements across various brain regions compared to the Normal PLI group (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Distinct EEG pattern alterations, especially in PLI and various frequency bands, were observed in the Abnormal PLI group. This group also displayed significant cognitive impairments across all cognitive measures (P < 0.001 for all comparisons) and experienced markedly higher seizure frequency, longer average seizure duration, and greater seizure severity compared to the Normal PLI group (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Correlation and logistic regression analyses supported the robust relationships between PLI, cognitive dysfunction, and seizure parameters (P < 0.001 for all).
Conclusion:
EEG-assessed PLI shows promise as a valuable tool for assessing cognitive dysfunction and predicting seizure occurrence in children with epilepsy. The study's findings contribute to the understanding of the neuropathophysiology of epilepsy in children and offer implications for prognostic assessment and therapeutic intervention in this vulnerable patient population. The results emphasize the potential clinical utility of EEG-derived biomarkers in the evaluation and management of epilepsy in pediatric patients, suggesting avenues for personalized treatment strategies to optimize cognitive outcomes and seizure management in this population.
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