title: Microstate connectivity alterations in patients with early Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electroencephalography (EEG) microstates and brain network are altered in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and discussed as potential biomarkers for AD. Microstates correspond to defined states of brain activity, and their connectivity patterns may change accordingly. Little is known about alteration of connectivity in microstates, especially in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment with stable or improving cognition within 30 months (aMCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five outpatients with aMCI or mild dementia (mean age 77 ± 7 years, 47% male, Mini Mental State Examination score ≥24) had comprehensive neuropsychological and clinical examinations. Subjects with cognitive decline over 30 months were allocated to the AD group, subjects with stable or improving cognition to the MCI-stable group. Results of neuropsychological testing at baseline were summarized in six domain scores. Resting state EEG was recorded with 256 electrodes and analyzed using TAPEEG. Five microstates were defined and individual data fitted. After phase transformation, the phase lag index (PLI) was calculated for the five microstates in every subject. Networks were reduced to 22 nodes for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The domain score for verbal learning and memory and the microstate segmented PLI between the left centro-lateral and parieto-occipital regions in the theta band at baseline differentiated significantly between the groups. In the present sample, they separated in a logistic regression model with a 100% positive predictive value, 60% negative predictive value, 100% specificity and 77% sensitivity between AD and MCI-stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining neuropsychological and quantitative EEG test results allows differentiation between subjects with aMCI remaining stable and subjects with aMCI deteriorating over 30 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. florian.hatz@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hatz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. martin.hardmeier@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hardmeier
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. ninschebenz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benz
authors.affiliation: Memory Clinic, University Center for Medicine of Aging Basel, Felix Platter Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. michael.ehrensperger@fps-basel.ch.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrensperger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. ute.gschwandtner@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gschwandtner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. stephan.rueegg@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rüegg
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. christian.schindler@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Memory Clinic, University Center for Medicine of Aging Basel, Felix Platter Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. andreas.monsch@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Andreas U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Monsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. peter.fuhr@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuhr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers