Multimodal investigation of neural networks involved in the pathophysiology of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

• Grant number: 23/01951-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Eduardo Gomes Garcia Betting
• Grantee: Luiz Eduardo Gomes Garcia Betting
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is the most common form of refractory focal epilepsy in adults. The initial treatment of mTLE is done using antiseizure medications (ASMs). Most patients remain with seizures even with the use of appropriate therapy and at its maximum tolerated dose. The electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the main methods for investigating epilepsy. Quantitative analysis of these tests can be performed to detect subtle abnormalities. Using functional connectivity analysis, it is possible to map active neural networks during rest and quantify the connectivity of different regions with these resting networks. Studies using this methodology indicate that mTLE is a disease that affects specific neural networks. The assessment of connectivity through EEG allows detecting propagation networks more dynamically during interictal epileptiform activity. On the other hand, MRI can show alterations directly related to structural damage. The relationship between functional alterations obtained through EEG and MRI, as well as the modulation of these networks by medications is still under investigation. The present study will evaluate 70 mTLE patients and 35 voluntary controls selected from the local community with no history of neurological diseases. As a general objective, this study intends to investigate the effect of ASMs on the brain and on mTLE mechanisms. The specific objectives of the project are: to obtain MR functional connectivity maps at rest; to obtain structural maps; correlate functional findings with structural features; to evaluate the effects of serum levels of ASMs on the obtained correlation maps. (AU)