title: EEG power spectrum differences in early and late onset forms of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between some EEG spectral parameters and age of onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A study on the wakefulness EEG, recorded during eyes closed and open, was carried out on 150 AD patients (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria). Fifty-two normal subjects served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant prevalence of an EEG spectrum characterised by lack of a dominant peak in the 6.5-12 Hz band was found in early AD (EAD). Age of onset correlated inversely with the 1-6.5 Hz relative powers and positively with 6.5-12 Hz relative powers. A similar correlation was also found when a subgroup of mild initial AD was selected. Moreover, evidence of EEG changes peculiar to early onset AD emerged when 3 subgroups (with age of onset < or =60, range 61-69 and > or =70 years) were compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irrespective of the severity of disease, this study provides evidence of specific changes of wakeful EEG in patients affected by early-onset AD.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Nervous System Diseases, University of Ancona, Ospedale Regionale Torrette di Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cacchiò
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Signorino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angeleri
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged