Resting-state EEG alpha/theta power ratio discriminates early-onset Alzheimer's disease from healthy controls

Özbek Y., Fide E., Yener G. G.

Clinical Neurophysiology, vol.132, no.9, pp.2019-2031, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 132 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.05.012
  • Journal Name: Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.2019-2031
  • Keywords: Resting-state EEG, Early-onset AD, Late-onset AD, FFT, Alpha/theta ratio, Power, MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID BIOMARKERS, SUBJECTIVE MEMORY COMPLAINTS, FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY, QUANTITATIVE EEG, HIPPOCAMPAL ATROPHY, GRAY-MATTER, METABOLIC FUNCTION, BAND OSCILLATIONS, ALPHA RHYTHMS
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021 International Federation of Clinical NeurophysiologyObjectives: The present study aims to compare early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) patients with healthy controls (HC), and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients using resting-state delta, theta, alpha, and beta oscillations and provide a cut-off score of alpha/theta ratio to discriminate individuals with EOAD and young HC. Methods: Forty-seven individuals with EOAD, 51 individuals with LOAD, and demographically-matched 49 young and 51 older controls were included in the study. Spectral-power analysis using Fast-Fourier Transformation (FFT) is performed on resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) data. Delta, theta, alpha, and beta oscillations compared between groups and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted. Results: Compared to healthy controls individuals with EOAD showed an increase in slow frequency bands and a decrease in fast frequency bands. Frontal alpha/theta power ratio is the best discriminating value between EOAD and young HC with the sensitivity and specificity greater than 80% with area under the curve (AUC) 0.881. Conclusions: EOAD display more widespread and severe electrophysiological abnormalities than LOAD and HC which may reflect more pronounced pathological burden and cholinergic deficits in EOAD. Additionally, the alpha/theta ratio can discriminate EOAD and young HC successfully. Significance: This study is the first to report that resting-state EEG power can be a promising marker for diagnostic accuracy between EOAD and healthy controls.