Evidence for terminal decline in the event-related potential of the brain

Precipitous decline (terminal decline) characterizes changes in the elderly just prior to death. The neurological and temporal parameters of terminal decline are not defined. The present study compared sensitive changes in the brain event-related potential (ERP) in 7 subjects who died within 1 year of evaluation with matched controls. Cross-correlation of annual ERPs revealed disorganization within and between subjects in response to memory dependent conditions but not in response to a novel stimulus (oddball). Motor reaction time to targets was not sensitive to decline. The changes associated with impending death were restricted to decline in reliability of the ERP within 1 year of death.