ID: 209374 Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients Demonstrate Altered Age-Related Segregation Patterns in Brainstem Arousal Networks

Abstract

Recurrent consciousness-impairing seizures are associated with widespread brain network changes and disabling neurocognitive deficits in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) (Englot et al, 2020). We have shown altered functional connectivity in the brainstem ascending reticular acting system (ARAS) found in TLE patients (Englot et al, 2017) that may correlate with impairments in cognitive testing and may improve after surgical treatment (González et al, 2020). Studies of the ARAS network in control subjects have shown a significant age-related decrease in a within-network connectivity metric called segregation. Furthermore, patients with TLE have been shown to have clinical and radiological accelerated age-related changes. Thus, we sought to investigate any possible age-related ARAS network changes in TLE. Understanding how the ARAS is impacted may offer insight into how neurostimulation may improve its network dynamics.