Neuromorphometric associations with mood, cognition, and self-reported exercise levels in epilepsy and healthy individuals

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior reports Vol. 25; p. 100643
• Main Authors: Sharma, Ayushe A., Mackensie Terry, D., Popp, Johanna L., Szaflarski, Jerzy P., Martin, Roy C., Nenert, Rodolphe, Kaur, Manmeet, Brokamp, Gabrielle A., Bolding, Mark, Allendorfer, Jane B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-01-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cognition; Exercise levels; Grey matter volume; Hippocampus; Idiopathic generalized epilepsy; Mood; VBM; POMS; TIV; MoCA; MRI; IGE; FDf; Idiopathic generalized epilepsy; TMD; Cognition; L; GMV; PCC; R; Exercise levels; TFCE; Mood; PEL; Grey matter volume; Hippocampus
• ISSN: 2589-9864; 2589-9864
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2023.100643

•IGEs’ low exercise levels were associated with altered cortical folding and atrophy.•Increased cerebellar GMV was associated with greater mood disturbance in IGE.•GMV was positively associated with both exercise levels and cognition in IGE.•Self-reported exercise levels may highlight neuromorphometric differences in IGE.
Regular physical activity may promote beneficial neuroplasticity, e.g., increased hippocampus volume. However, it is unclear whether self-reported physical exercise in leisure (PEL) levels are associated with the brain structure features demonstrated by exercise interventions. This pilot study investigated the relationship between PEL, mood, cognition, and neuromorphometry in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGEs) compared to healthy controls (HCs). Seventeen IGEs and 19 age- and sex-matched HCs underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T. The Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity, Profile of Mood States, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) assessed PEL, mood, and cognition, respectively. Structural MRI data were analyzed by voxel- and surface-based morphometry. IGEs had significantly lower PEL (p < 0.001), poorer mood (p = 0.029), and lower MoCA scores (p = 0.027) than HCs. These group differences were associated with reduced volume, decreased gyrification, and altered surface topology (IGEs < HCs) in frontal, temporal and cerebellar regions involved in executive function, memory retrieval, and emotional regulation, respectively.
These preliminary results support the notion that increased PEL may promote neuroplasticity in IGEs, thus emphasizing the role of physical activity in promoting brain health in people with epilepsy.