EEG asymmetry and cognitive testing in MCI identification

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Early identification of cognitive decline is crucial for timely intervention and clinical trial recruitment.
• Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) offers a potential non-invasive method for detecting early cognitive changes.
• Baseline EEG markers could facilitate community-based screening and treatment evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate resting-state EEG markers for early identification of cognitive decline.
• To determine if frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and frontal beta asymmetry (FBA) can differentiate between cognitively typical and mildly cognitively impaired (MCI) older adults.
• To assess the added value of EEG asymmetries over cognitive testing alone.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of resting-state EEG (rsEEG) data from 99 African Americans (ages 60-90), including 58 cognitively typical and 41 with MCI.
• Calculation of rsEEG frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and frontal beta asymmetry (FBA) from eyes-closed recordings.
• Utilized logistic regression to classify participants based on EEG measures and neuropsychological test results.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in FAA was observed between cognitively typical and MCI groups.
• Frontal beta asymmetry (FBA) was significantly higher in the MCI group, indicating greater asymmetry.
• Both FBA and computerized cognitive tests were significant predictors for classifying MCI versus control participants.

Conclusions:

• Resting-state EEG asymmetries, particularly FBA, show promise as biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment.
• EEG measures can significantly enhance the discrimination of MCI from normal cognition, beyond traditional cognitive assessments.
• These findings support the use of rsEEG for early detection of cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults.