Background
Our body constantly works to keep its temperature within a safe range. This process, known as temperature homeostasis, is controlled in large part by a region of the brain called the hypothalamus. Temperature changes have been linked to seizures, and higher brain and body temperatures can increase seizure activity in some forms of epilepsy. However, it has been unclear whether epilepsy itself can disrupt the brain systems responsible for regulating temperature.
Research
The researchers monitored brain and body temperature in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy before and after epilepsy developed, while also recording seizures. They found that temperature in the hippocampus was higher in the epilepsy model and remained elevated after epilepsy became established. Body temperature also rose shortly before and during spontaneous seizures, remaining elevated afterwards.
The team then examined two areas of the hypothalamus involved in temperature regulation. These regions showed around a 20% reduction in neuronal density, alongside signs of neuroinflammation. MRI also showed reduced hypothalamic volume in the epilepsy model. Importantly, MRI scans from people with epilepsy showed similar reductions in hypothalamic volume, supporting the potential relevance of these findings to human epilepsy.
Potential Impact
The findings suggest that epilepsy may disrupt the brain’s “thermostat”, with inflammation and changes in the hypothalamus potentially contributing to problems with temperature regulation. This provides new insight into the relationship between temperature and seizures and could help identify new approaches to reducing seizure susceptibility. Further research is needed to understand whether changes in temperature directly influence seizure activity.