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Review
. 2015 Jul 6:6:152.
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00152. eCollection 2015.

Mild Cognitive Impairment: Structural, Metabolical, and Neurophysiological Evidence of a Novel EEG Biomarker

Davide Vito Moretti  1
Affiliations
Review

Mild Cognitive Impairment: Structural, Metabolical, and Neurophysiological Evidence of a Novel EEG Biomarker

Davide Vito Moretti. Front Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Recent studies demonstrate that the alpha3/alpha2 power ratio correlates with cortical atrophy, regional hypoperfusion, and memory impairment in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Evidences were reviewed in subjects with MCI, who underwent EEG recording, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and memory evaluation. Alpha3/alpha2 power ratio (alpha2 8.9-10.9 Hz range; alpha3 10.9-12.9 Hz range), cortical thickness, linear EEG coherence, and memory impairment have been evaluated in a large group of 74 patients. A subset of 27 subjects within the same group also underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) evaluation.

Results: In MCI subjects with higher EEG upper/low alpha power ratio, a greater temporo-parietal and hippocampal atrophy was found as well as a decrease in regional blood perfusion and memory impairment. In this group, an increase of theta oscillations is associated with a greater interhemispheric coupling between temporal areas.

Conclusion: The increase of alpha3/alpha2 power ratio is a promising novel biomarker in identifying MCI subjects at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords: EEG; MRI; SPECT; coherence; memory.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
In red are represented the brain regions with higher regional cortical thickness in MCI with high a3/a2 ratio as compared to MCI with low a3/a2 ratio (p < 0.01 uncorrected). The color-coding for p-values is on a logarithmic scale. Results are presented on the pial cortical surface of brain: dark gray regions represent sulci and light gray regions represent gyri.
Figure 2
Figure 2
In red are represented the brain regions with higher regional cortical thickness in MCI with high a3/a2 ratio as compared to MCI with middle a3/a2 ratio (p < 0.01 uncorrected). The color-coding for p-values is on a logarithmic scale. Results are presented on the pial cortical surface of brain: dark gray regions represent sulci and light gray regions represent gyri.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SPECT visual rating. The output shows a SPECT visual inspection of glucose uptake metabolism: the white square denotes an area of mild-to-moderate temporo-parietal hypometabolism in one of the 14 at low risk and in one of the 13 at high risk MCI patient respect to one of the 17 enrolled controls. The results are representative of the entire groups.
Figure 4
Figure 4
EEG Coherence statistical results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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