Effects of Exercise on Functional Performance, BDNF, Executive Functions and Sleep Quality in Children with Epilepsy

According to the definition of the International League Against Epilepsy, a seizure is the emergence of temporary signs and/or symptoms as a result of abnormal, excessive and simultaneous stimulation of neurons in the brain. Epilepsy is a state of being prone to recurrent seizures; epilepsy is at least two seizures that occur without a cause that can be demonstrated at the time and recur within more than 24 hours. Approximately one in 150 children is diagnosed with epilepsy in the first 10 years of their life, with the highest incidence rate seen in infancy. Recent studies conducted in different populations in Turkey have indicated that the incidence of epilepsy in children and adolescents is between 20 per 100,000 and 124 per 100,000. Families of children with epilepsy report high levels of stress (45%), depression (46%) and anxiety (56%). The concept of gamification is based on the application of "game design elements in a non-game context" to motivate participation. Many studies have reported the positive effects of game-based education in children. Through play, the child's psychomotor skills, strength, reaction and attention are increased, control of large and small muscles is taken under control and balance, flexibility and agility are provided in movements.

Studies on the subject show that exercise can create positive neuronal changes in individuals with epilepsy and reduce damage. Regular exercise is associated with changes in neurotransmitter levels, glial cell volume, expression of endogenous neurotrophic factors and increased neurogenesis. Considering these neurobiological effects of exercise, physical activity has been shown to have beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases.

Functional performance refers to certain activities and behaviors that individuals can perform at a certain level in daily life. It is known that functional performance is affected in children with epilepsy. When the literature is examined, it has been seen that children and adolescents with epilepsy but without additional disabilities have surprisingly high motor problems, especially in the areas of reaction speed, balance and coordination.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) belongs to the neurotrophin family, which are growth factors that have trophic effects on neurons. BDNF is the most widely distributed neurotrophin in the central nervous system and is highly expressed in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. It is generally accepted that BDNF plays a role in synaptic plasticity by regulating presynaptic and postsynaptic transmission. There are studies showing that BDNF levels are altered in individuals with epilepsy.

Sleep disorders are more common in children with epilepsy than in the general population. Due to the bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and sleep disorders, it is extremely important to evaluate sleep disorders in individuals with epilepsy. At the same time, behavioral changes, cognitive problems, and learning difficulties (mostly attention problems and hyperactivity) are more common in children with epilepsy, 24-66% more than in the general population; these changes are strongly associated with insomnia or excessive sleepiness.

Epilepsy in childhood is characterized as a chronic medical disease with a characteristic behavioral and cognitive phenotype that includes impaired executive functions and attention-related deficits. Studies have shown that executive functions are affected in children with epilepsy. In the literature, the sample group of studies on the effects of exercise in epilepsy is usually adults. In this case, data on the effects of exercise in children with epilepsy are quite limited. This study will evaluate the effects of exercise training on functional performance, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, executive functions and sleep quality in children with epilepsy and will provide data and contributions to fill this gap in the literature.