View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Structural and Functional Abnormalities in Women With Catamenial Epilepsy.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Structural and Functional Abnormalities in Women With Catamenial Epilepsy.
Authors: Chen, Yujie (AUTHOR), Ran, Maojia (AUTHOR), Zhang, Enhui (AUTHOR), Hao, Nanya (AUTHOR), Zhao, Chenyang (AUTHOR), Zhang, Hesheng (AUTHOR), Ou, Zhujing (AUTHOR), Le, Zhijun (AUTHOR), Yan, Raowei (AUTHOR), Tian, Weizhi (AUTHOR), Zhou, Muke (AUTHOR), Yue, Qiang (AUTHOR), Zhou, Dong (AUTHOR), Wu, Xintong (AUTHOR), Fee, Dominic B. (AUTHOR)
Source: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 4/9/2026, Vol. 2026, p1-13. 13p.
Subjects: Epilepsy, Menstrual cycle, Brain abnormalities, People with epilepsy, Brain imaging, Thalamus
Abstract: Objective: Catamenial epilepsy (CE) is a neuroendocrine disorder characterized by seizure exacerbation during specific phases of the menstrual cycle. The pathophysiology of CE remains elusive. This study investigates structural and functional brain alterations in women with Type‐I CE, focusing on the interaction between hormonal fluctuations and epileptic networks. Methods: Thirty‐three CE women with Type‐I CE and 27 healthy controls (HCs) underwent longitudinal multimodal MRI scans during the perimenstrual and midluteal phases. Voxel‐based morphometry was used to detect abnormal gray matter volume (GMV), while amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) evaluated local signal changes. Functional connectivity was explored with brain regions showing abnormal GMV, fALFF, or ALFF as seed regions. Mediation analysis evaluated structural–functional relationships between hormonal changes and seizure frequency. Results: Reduced GMV was found in the CE group within the superior frontal gyrus, mediodorsal thalamus, insula, and limbic regions. Resting‐state functional MRI demonstrated cycle‐related fluctuations in the anterior cingulate cortex and the inferior temporal gyrus that were specific to women with CE relative to the HC group. In the seed‐based FC analysis, the CE group exhibited hypoconnectivity within the temporo–limbic regions compared to HCs. In contrast to the temporal stability observed in HCs, women with CE displayed extensive hyperconnectivity involving the thalamo–striatal and fronto–parietal regions during the perimenstrual phase relative to the midluteal phase. Correlation analysis indicated that perimenstrual estradiol levels were negatively associated with ALFF value in the inferior temporal gyrus. Mediation analysis suggested mediodorsal thalamus GMV atrophy as a critical substrate linking estradiol fluctuations to perimenstrual seizure exacerbation. Conclusions: These findings may implicate a hormone‐sensitive network with widespread cortical alterations anchored in the thalamo–temporolimbic hub as central to CE pathophysiology. The structural vulnerability of the mediodorsal thalamus acts as a modulator where estradiol withdrawal might trigger functional network instability, suggesting a potential precision target for neuromodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 192872431
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Structural and Functional Abnormalities in Women With Catamenial Epilepsy.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Yujie%22">Chen, Yujie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ran%2C+Maojia%22">Ran, Maojia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Enhui%22">Zhang, Enhui</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hao%2C+Nanya%22">Hao, Nanya</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhao%2C+Chenyang%22">Zhao, Chenyang</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Hesheng%22">Zhang, Hesheng</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ou%2C+Zhujing%22">Ou, Zhujing</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Le%2C+Zhijun%22">Le, Zhijun</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yan%2C+Raowei%22">Yan, Raowei</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tian%2C+Weizhi%22">Tian, Weizhi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Muke%22">Zhou, Muke</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yue%2C+Qiang%22">Yue, Qiang</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Dong%22">Zhou, Dong</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Xintong%22">Wu, Xintong</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fee%2C+Dominic+B%2E%22">Fee, Dominic B.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Acta+Neurologica+Scandinavica%22">Acta Neurologica Scandinavica</searchLink>. 4/9/2026, Vol. 2026, p1-13. 13p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Epilepsy%22">Epilepsy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Menstrual+cycle%22">Menstrual cycle</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain+abnormalities%22">Brain abnormalities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22People+with+epilepsy%22">People with epilepsy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain+imaging%22">Brain imaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thalamus%22">Thalamus</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: Catamenial epilepsy (CE) is a neuroendocrine disorder characterized by seizure exacerbation during specific phases of the menstrual cycle. The pathophysiology of CE remains elusive. This study investigates structural and functional brain alterations in women with Type‐I CE, focusing on the interaction between hormonal fluctuations and epileptic networks. Methods: Thirty‐three CE women with Type‐I CE and 27 healthy controls (HCs) underwent longitudinal multimodal MRI scans during the perimenstrual and midluteal phases. Voxel‐based morphometry was used to detect abnormal gray matter volume (GMV), while amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) evaluated local signal changes. Functional connectivity was explored with brain regions showing abnormal GMV, fALFF, or ALFF as seed regions. Mediation analysis evaluated structural–functional relationships between hormonal changes and seizure frequency. Results: Reduced GMV was found in the CE group within the superior frontal gyrus, mediodorsal thalamus, insula, and limbic regions. Resting‐state functional MRI demonstrated cycle‐related fluctuations in the anterior cingulate cortex and the inferior temporal gyrus that were specific to women with CE relative to the HC group. In the seed‐based FC analysis, the CE group exhibited hypoconnectivity within the temporo–limbic regions compared to HCs. In contrast to the temporal stability observed in HCs, women with CE displayed extensive hyperconnectivity involving the thalamo–striatal and fronto–parietal regions during the perimenstrual phase relative to the midluteal phase. Correlation analysis indicated that perimenstrual estradiol levels were negatively associated with ALFF value in the inferior temporal gyrus. Mediation analysis suggested mediodorsal thalamus GMV atrophy as a critical substrate linking estradiol fluctuations to perimenstrual seizure exacerbation. Conclusions: These findings may implicate a hormone‐sensitive network with widespread cortical alterations anchored in the thalamo–temporolimbic hub as central to CE pathophysiology. The structural vulnerability of the mediodorsal thalamus acts as a modulator where estradiol withdrawal might trigger functional network instability, suggesting a potential precision target for neuromodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192872431
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1155/ane/6589710
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Epilepsy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Menstrual cycle
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Brain abnormalities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: People with epilepsy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Brain imaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thalamus
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Structural and Functional Abnormalities in Women With Catamenial Epilepsy.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chen, Yujie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ran, Maojia
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Enhui
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hao, Nanya
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhao, Chenyang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Hesheng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ou, Zhujing
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Le, Zhijun
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yan, Raowei
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tian, Weizhi
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhou, Muke
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yue, Qiang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhou, Dong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wu, Xintong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fee, Dominic B.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 09
              M: 04
              Text: 4/9/2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00016314
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 2026
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
              Type: main
ResultId 1