Elevated phase amplitude coupling as a depression biomarker in epilepsy.

Depression is prevalent in epilepsy patients and their intracranial brain activity recordings can be used to determine the types of brain activity that are associated with comorbid depression. We performed case-control comparison of spectral power and phase amplitude coupling (PAC) in 34 invasively monitored drug resistant epilepsy patients' brain recordings. The values of spectral power and PAC for one-minute segments out of every hour in a patient's study were correlated with pre-operative assessment of depressive symptoms by Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI). We identified an elevated PAC signal (theta-alpha-beta phase (5-25 Hz)/gamma frequency (80-100 Hz) band) that is present in high BDI scores but not low BDI scores adult epilepsy patients in brain regions implicated in primary depression, including anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Our results showed the application of PAC as a network-specific, electrophysiologic biomarker candidate for comorbid depression and its potential as treatment target for neuromodulation.

The Sensitivity of Scalp EEG at Detecting Seizures-A Simultaneous Scalp and Stereo EEG Study.

PURPOSE: Compare the detection rate of seizures on scalp EEG with simultaneous intracranial stereo EEG (SEEG) recordings. METHODS: Twenty-seven drug-resistant epilepsy patients undergoing SEEG with simultaneous scalp EEG as part of their surgical work-up were included. A total of 172 seizures were captured. RESULTS: Of the 172 seizures detected on SEEG, 100 demonstrated scalp ictal patterns. Focal aware and subclinical seizures were less likely to be seen on scalp, with 33% of each observed when compared with focal impaired aware (97%) and focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (100%) (P < 0.001). Of the 72 seizures without ictal scalp correlate, 32 demonstrated an abnormality during the SEEG seizure that was identical to an interictal abnormality. Seizures from patients with MRI lesions were statistically less likely to be seen on scalp than seizures from nonlesional patients (P = 0.0162). Stereo EEG seizures not seen on scalp were shorter in duration (49 seconds) compared with SEEG seizures seen on scalp (108.6 seconds) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Scalp EEG is not a sensitive tool for the detection of focal aware and subclinical seizures but is highly sensitive for the detection of focal impaired aware and focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Longer duration of seizure and seizures from patients without MRI lesions were more likely to be apparent on scalp. Abnormalities seen interictally may at times represent an underlying seizure. The cognitive, affective, and behavioral long-term effects of ongoing difficult-to-detect seizures are not known.

Effects of declared levels of physical activity on quality of life of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Routine physical fitness improves health and psychosocial well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The current study investigated impact of physical fitness on quality of life by comparing individuals who maintain a physically active lifestyle with those who do not report exercising. We assessed several indicators of quality of life, including inclusion and community participation; satisfaction with professional services, home life, and day activities; dignity, rights, and respect received from others; fear; choice and control; and family satisfaction. Our data suggested that individuals who regularly exercise reported having more frequent outings into the community than did their peers who reported exercising infrequently; regular exercisers were also more likely to live in intermediate care facilities (ICF) as opposed to living independently or with family members. We discuss possible reasons for this as well as ideas for future research needed to expand on this area.