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Heat-Epilepsy Link: How High Temperatures Affect Brain Activity
Understanding the impact of extreme weather on neurological conditions is becoming increasingly crucial as climate change intensifies. The study, published in Brain Communications, investigates the effects of heatwaves on individuals with medication-resistant epilepsy. Using intracranial electroencephalography (icEEG), researchers monitored the brain activity of nine patients undergoing evaluation for surgical treatment of epilepsy at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. 'Increased #seizure episodes and abnormal #brain activity were observed in #epileptic patients during #heatwaves. #medindia' Their brain activity was monitored using intracranial electroencephalography (icEEG) tests, which measure electrical impulses by inserting tiny electrodes into the brain's substance.Heatwave and Epilepsy Association No participant had a known genetic epilepsy, which is already linked to seizures being worse during heatwaves, based on genomic testing.In London, they define a heatwave as three or more days with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 28 degrees Celsius.
The nine individuals in the study happened to have icEEG recordings obtained during spontaneous heatwaves in London, allowing the researchers to directly observe their brain activity amid exceptionally hot conditions.
Once all other parameters, aside from temperature, were held constant, the researchers compared this data to icEEG recordings made from the patients during non-heatwave periods.
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During four 10-minute intervals, both inside and outside of heatwaves, the researchers recorded any unusual electrical activity for every subject and monitored every seizure session.Do Heatwaves Cause More Seizure Episodes? They discovered that, on average, more seizures were detected by the icEEG during heatwaves than during the non-heatwave time. In addition to convulsions during heatwaves, three patients also exhibited other unusual electrical brain activity.Advertisement
Senior author, Professor Sanjay Sisodiya (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), said: "Our research shows that for some people with epilepsy – in particular those with the most severe epilepsies – higher ambient temperatures increase the likelihood of having seizures."This is an important finding, providing some of the first evidence that for some people who already have epilepsy, higher temperatures seen during heatwaves can make their condition worse."
"Such information is important for the care of individual people with epilepsy, and also for broader efforts to ensure people with epilepsy can be kept safe as the climate changes."
The current study sample size is relatively small as icEEG is not commonly undertaken and a heatwave had to have happened, by chance, during the recording.
However, the team now hope to have a bigger prospective study, and data are currently being collected.
Professor Sisodiya said: "Despite the study's limited sample size, our findings remain valuable in the context of climate change. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, understanding the effects of heatwaves on brain activity is crucial."
Professor Sisodiya recently led a review of 332 papers published across the world, that explored the scale of potential effects of climate change on neurological diseases.
The researchers found that the effect of climate change on weather patterns and adverse weather events is likely to negatively affect the health of people with brain conditions, including stroke, migraine, Alzheimer's, meningitis, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The new research adds to this analysis.
Reference:
Source-Eurekalert
Heatwaves May Increase Likelihood Of Seizures In People With Epilepsy
The research, published in Brain Communications, used intracranial electroencephalography (icEEG) tests – where small electrodes are inserted into the substance of the brain to measure electrical impulses – to track the brain activity of nine patients being evaluated for surgical treatment of medication-resistant epilepsy at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, in the summer months (May-August) of 2015 – 2022.
Genomic testing showed that none of the participants had known genetic epilepsies that are already associated with worsening of seizures during heatwaves.
In London, a heatwave is defined as three or more consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures of more than 28 degrees Celsius.
The nine patients involved in the study were, by chance, having icEEG recordings taken during spontaneous heatwaves in London, allowing the researchers to directly examine their brain activity during periods of unusually hot weather.
The researchers then compared this data to icEEG recordings taken from the patients during non-heatwave periods – while ensuring that all other conditions (apart from temperature) remained the same.
For each participant, the team logged any abnormal electrical activity across four 10-minute segments within and outside of heatwaves. They also tracked all seizures.
They found that, overall, more seizures were recorded by the icEEG during heatwaves compared with the non-heatwave period. Meanwhile, three patients also had more abnormal electrical brain activity aside from seizures during heatwaves.
Senior author, Professor Sanjay Sisodiya (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), said: "Our research shows that for some people with epilepsy – in particular those with the most severe epilepsies – higher ambient temperatures increase the likelihood of having seizures.
"This is an important finding, providing some of the first evidence that for some people who already have epilepsy, higher temperatures seen during heatwaves can make their condition worse.
"Such information is important for the care of individual people with epilepsy, and also for broader efforts to ensure people with epilepsy can be kept safe as the climate changes."
The current study sample size is relatively small as icEEG is not commonly undertaken and a heatwave had to have happened, by chance, during the recording.
However, the team now hope to have a bigger prospective study, and data are currently being collected.
Professor Sisodiya said: "Despite the study's limited sample size, our findings remain valuable in the context of climate change. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, understanding the effects of heatwaves on brain activity is crucial."
Professor Sisodiya recently led a review of 332 papers published across the world, that explored that scale of potential effects of climate change on neurological diseases*.
The researchers found that the effect of climate change on weather patterns and adverse weather events is likely to negatively affect the health of people with brain conditions, including stroke, migraine, Alzheimer's, meningitis, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The new research adds to this analysis.
The research was carried out in collaboration with researchers at UCLH and funded by the Epilepsy Society, The Amelia Roberts Fellowship, and a UCL Grand Challenges Climate Crisis Special Initiative award.
* https://www.Ucl.Ac.Uk/news/2024/may/climate-change-likely-aggravate-brain-conditions
JournalBrain Communications
Method of ResearchExperimental study
Subject of ResearchPeople
Article TitleThe influence of temperature and genomic variation on intracranial EEG measures in people with epilepsy
Article Publication Date10-Sep-2024
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! Are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! By contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
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