Could thalamic biochemical changes correlate to cognitive impairment in idiopathic generalized epilepsy?

Abstract Background The thalamus is crucial in the development of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), which could lead to cognitive dysfunctions, according data from neuropsychology and advanced neuroimaging investigations. This research aimed measure metabolic changes assess if be contributed impairment IGE patients. Thirty patients thirty healthy volunteers with matched ages, genders, educational levels participated this cross-sectional case–control research. controls were evaluated neuropsychologically using Intelligence Quotient (IQ) general ability, Digit span for attention, Wechsler memory scale (WMS) verbal memory, cube drawing test visuospatial Trail making executive functions, Controlled Oral Word Association (COWAT) fluency quantitative multi-voxel MR spectroscopy (MRS) measurements N -acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho Cho/Cr ratios at 1.5 T scanner. voxels located over right left thalamus. Results showed worse performance IQ, function, domains compared controls. exhibited a significantly decrease NAA ( p = 0.004) lower NAA/Cr ratio 0.01). mean level positive correlation CDT r 0.45, P 0.01), WMS-R 0.39, 0.03) negative trail-making A 0.42, Conclusions it was concluded that poor cognition attributed thalamic neurometabolic due impaired cortical circuits.