Individual analysis of EEG frequency and band power in mild Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
This EEG study investigates the role of the cholinergic system, cortico-cortical connections, and sub-cortical white matter on the relationship between individual EEG frequencies and their relative power bands.


METHODS
EEGs were recorded at rest in 30 normal elderly subjects (Nold), 60 mild Alzheimer disease (AD) and 20 vascular dementia (VaD) patients, comparable for Mini Mental State Evaluation scores (MMSE 17-24). Individual EEG frequencies were indexed by the theta/alpha transition frequency (TF) and by the individual alpha frequency (IAF) with power peak in the extended alpha range (5-14 Hz). Relative power was separately computed for delta, theta, alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 bands, on the basis of the TF and IAF.


RESULTS
Using normal subjects as a reference, VaD patients showed 'slowing' of alpha frequency (TF-IAF) and lower alpha2 power; Mild AD patients showed lower alpha2 and alpha3 power; delta power was higher in both AD and VaD patients; Theta power was higher only in VaD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Individual analysis of the alpha frequency and power can discriminate mild AD from VaD and normal elderly subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis may probe pathophysiological mechanisms causing AD and VaD.
Moretti
Davide V
DV
Dipartimento Fisiologia Umana e Farmacologia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Babiloni
Claudio
C
Binetti
Giuliano
G
Cassetta
Emanuele
E
Dal Forno
Gloria
G
Ferreric
Florinda
F
Ferri
Raffaele
R
Lanuzza
Bartolo
B
Miniussi
Carlo
C
Nobili
Flavio
F
Rodriguez
Guido
G
Salinari
Serenella
S
Rossini
Paolo M
PM
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted