Aerobic physical exercise improves quality of life in temporal lobe epilepsy

Shai Oisiovici Laks; Nathalia Volpato; Nikolas Coelho; Mateus Henrique Nogueira; Pamela Regina Henning; Aline de Fatima Dias; William Souza Martins Ferreira; Clarissa Lin Yasuda; Luciana Ramalho Pimentel-Silva; Fernando Cendes

doi:10.1055/s-0045-1804919

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Table of Contents

CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83(02): s00451804919
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1804919

Original Article

Aerobic physical exercise improves quality of life in temporal lobe epilepsy

Shai Oisiovici Laks

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Nathalia Volpato

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Nikolas Coelho

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Mateus Henrique Nogueira

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Pamela Regina Henning

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Aline de Fatima Dias

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

William Souza Martins Ferreira

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Clarissa Lin Yasuda

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Luciana Ramalho Pimentel-Silva

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

,

Fernando Cendes

¹Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas SP, Brazil.

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background A prior study showed that people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with an active lifestyle present a better quality of life (QoL), but the influence of aerobic physical exercise (APE) in the QoL of these patients is still unclear. As pharmacoresistance is commonly associated with TLE, the possibility of seizures during the activities might prevent patients from benefiting from APE.

Objective To analyze the influence of APE in the QoL of TLE patients and also focus on the seizure worry subitem of the QoL in epilepsy 31 (QoLIE-31) questionnaire.

Methods We analyzed data from 25 individuals with TLE who participated in a 6-month APE program under the supervision of a board-certified physical trainer. TLE patients were divided into training (TLE-training) and control (TLE-control) groups. The TLE-training group underwent an APE program of 6 months, while the control group was oriented to keep their routine. We assessed all patients with the QoLIE-31 at baseline and after 6 months. We used a mixed-between-subjects ANOVA to assess the APE intervention compared with TLE-control pre- and postintervention on the QoL.

Results We found a significant interaction between intervention groups and APE-time (p = 0.0005), showing that only patients in the TLE-training group presented higher QoL after the intervention (p = 0.001). We found no significant differences between groups for seizure worry (p = 0.50).

Conclusion There was improvement in QoL due to APE, with no increase in seizure worry, which might be a feature of concern for both patients and healthcare practitioners. Further studies should focus on long-term interventions to evaluate the impact of APE in QoL.

Keywords

Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - Quality of Life - Exercise - Seizure

Bibliographical Record
Shai Oisiovici Laks, Nathalia Volpato, Nikolas Coelho, Mateus Henrique Nogueira, Pamela Regina Henning, Aline de Fatima Dias, William Souza Martins Ferreira, Clarissa Lin Yasuda, Luciana Ramalho Pimentel-Silva, Fernando Cendes. Aerobic physical exercise improves quality of life in temporal lobe epilepsy. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83: s00451804919.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1804919

Full Text

References

References
1 Maguire M. . Chapter 12 - The psychopharmacology of epilepsy. In: Reus VI, Lindqvist D. eds Psychopharmacology of Neurologic Disease. . Vol 165. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Elsevier; 2019: 207-227 . doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64012-3.00012-5
2 Fisher RS, Acevedo C, Arzimanoglou A. et al. ILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsy. Epilepsia 2014; 55 (04) 475-482 10.1111/epi.12550
3 Scheffer IE, Berkovic S, Capovilla G. et al. ILAE classification of the epilepsies: Position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia 2017; 58 (04) 512-521 10.1111/epi.13709
4 Thijs RD, Surges R, O'Brien TJ, Sander JW. Epilepsy in adults. Lancet 2019; 393 (10172): 689-701 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32596-0
5 Saxena S, Li S. Defeating epilepsy: A global public health commitment. Epilepsia Open 2017; 2 (02) 153-155 10.1002/epi4.12010
6 González Otárula KA, Schuele S. Networks in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2020; 31 (03) 309-317 10.1016/j.nec.2020.02.001
7 Zanão TA, Lopes TM, de Campos BM, Yasuda CL, Cendes F. Patterns of default mode network in temporal lobe epilepsy with and without hippocampal sclerosis. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 121 (Pt B): 106523 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106523
8 Whelan CD, Altmann A, Botía JA. et al. Structural brain abnormalities in the common epilepsies assessed in a worldwide ENIGMA study. Brain 2018; 141 (02) 391-408 10.1093/brain/awx341
9 Cataldi M, Avoli M, de Villers-Sidani E. Resting state networks in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2013; 54 (12) 2048-2059 10.1111/epi.12400
10 Caspersen CJ, Powell KE, Christenson GM. Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public Health Rep 1985; 100 (02) 126-131
11 Volpato N, Kobashigawa J, Yasuda CL, Kishimoto ST, Fernandes PT, Cendes F. Level of physical activity and aerobic capacity associate with quality of life in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. PLoS One 2017; 12 (07) e0181505 10.1371/journal.pone.0181505
12 Bjørholt PG, Nakken KO, Røhme K, Hansen H. Leisure time habits and physical fitness in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsia 1990; 31 (01) 83-87 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1990.tb05364.x
13 McAuley JW, Long L, Heise J. et al. A Prospective Evaluation of the Effects of a 12-Week Outpatient Exercise Program on Clinical and Behavioral Outcomes in Patients with Epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2001; 2 (06) 592-600 10.1006/ebeh.2001.0271
14 Arida RM, Scorza FA, Cavalheiro EA. Favorable effects of physical activity for recovery in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2010; 51 (Suppl. 03) 76-79 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02615.x
15 Eriksen HR, Ellertsen B, Grønningsaeter H, Nakken KO, Løyning Y, Ursin H. Physical exercise in women with intractable epilepsy. Epilepsia 1994; 35 (06) 1256-1264 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1994.tb01797.x
16 Matsudo S, Araujo T, Matsudo V. et al. Questionário Internacional De Atividade Física (Ipaq): Estudo de Validade e Reprodutibilidade No Brasil. Questionário Internacional De Atividade Física (Ipaq) . Estupo De Validade E Reprodutibilidade No Brasil 2001; 6 (02) 5-18 10.12820/rbafs.v.6n2p5-18
17 de Lima C, de Lira CAB, Arida RM. et al. Association between leisure time, physical activity, and mood disorder levels in individuals with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2013; 28 (01) 47-51 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.03.016
18 DeToledo JC, Lowe MR. Treadmill injuries in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2003; 4 (05) 553-555 10.1016/S1525-5050(03)00155-0
19 Sturm JW, Fedi M, Berkovic SF, Reutens DC. Exercise-induced temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurology 2002; 59 (08) 1246-1248 10.1212/wnl.59.8.1246
20 da Silva TI, Ciconelli RM, Alonso NB. et al. Validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the quality of life in epilepsy inventory (QOLIE-31) for Brazil. Epilepsy Behav 2007; 10 (02) 234-241 10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.08.022
21 Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR. et al; American College of Sports Medicine. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43 (07) 1334-1359 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318213fefb
22 Nakken KO, Bjørholt PG, Johannessen SI, Løyning T, Lind E. Effect of physical training on aerobic capacity, seizure occurrence, and serum level of antiepileptic drugs in adults with epilepsy. Epilepsia 1990; 31 (01) 88-94 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1990.tb05365.x
23 Camilo F, Scorza FA, de Albuquerque M, Vancini RL, Cavalheiro EA, Arida RM. Evaluation of intense physical effort in subjects with temporal lobe epilepsy. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2009; 67 (04) 1007-1012 10.1590/S0004-282x2009000600009