Resting EEG Periodic and Aperiodic Components Predict Cognitive Decline Over 10 Years

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Aging
• Electroencephalography (EEG)

Background:

• Intrinsic brain function measures like individual alpha peak frequency (IAPF) and the aperiodic exponent are linked to cognitive function.
• Both IAPF and aperiodic exponent decline with age and correlate with poorer executive function and working memory.
• Few studies have jointly investigated these EEG metrics or their predictive power for longitudinal cognitive decline.

Approach:

• A secondary analysis of the longitudinal Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study was conducted.
• The study examined whether IAPF and aperiodic exponent, measured at rest via EEG, predict cognitive function changes over a 10-year period in 235 participants.
• Statistical models controlled for age, sex, education, and time lags between data collection.

Key Points:

• Individual alpha peak frequency (IAPF) and the aperiodic exponent interact to predict overall cognitive ability decline.
• "Mismatched" combinations of IAPF and aperiodic exponent predicted greater cognitive decline than "matched" combinations.
• These associations were primarily driven by changes in executive function measures.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first evidence that IAPF and the aperiodic exponent jointly predict cognitive decline from midlife into old age.
• The interaction between IAPF and aperiodic exponent may serve as a valuable clinical biomarker for identifying cognitive aging risks.
• These findings highlight the potential of resting-state EEG metrics for predicting future cognitive trajectories.