March 9, 2023

Seizures, Altered Brain Structures Linked in Angelman Children: Study

Article published by Angelman Syndrome News

Certain structures within the brains of children with Angelman syndrome were altered compared with unaffected children of the same age, an MRI study concluded.

Imaging found a thinner and more folded outer cortex layer and reduced gray matter volume within the inner subcortex region in Angelman children.

More serious abnormal brain patterns appeared to be linked to the occurrence of seizures, the researchers noted in the MRI study, “Cortical and subcortical morphological alteration in Angelman syndrome,” which was published in the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Angelman syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by poor muscle control (ataxia), intellectual disability, speech impairment, seizures, and hyperactivity.

Emerging evidence from MRI imaging studies indicates changes in several structures within the brains of Angelman patients, which may affect brain function and cause symptoms.

Researchers in China applied a set of high-resolution brain MRI measurements to detail the Angelman brain and determine whether any detected abnormalities are associated with seizures.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study conducted on a Chinese population with [Angelman syndrome],” they wrote.