09-EEG studies in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are accompanied by pathological phenomena detected in the basal ganglia (BG) and cortical regions by electroencephalography (EEG). The literature published between 2000 and 2017 was reviewed with an emphasis on approaches emerging after 2000, in particular on data acquired from subcortical structures and from connectivity studies. Sixty-four articles were reviewed. The main observations were a general slowing of background activity, excessive synchronization of beta activity, and disturbed movement-related gamma oscillations in the BG and in the cortico-subcortical and cortico-cortical motor loops, suppressible by dopaminergic medication as well as by high-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS). Non-motor symptoms are related mainly to changes in the alpha frequency range. EEG parameters can be useful in defining the risk of dementia in PD. Further progress was reported recently using advanced analytical technologies and high-performance computing (graph theory). Detailed knowledge of pathophysiological EEG patterns in PD enables progress particularly in DBS therapy, which requires optimizing the clinical effect and minimizing adverse side effects. The neurocognitive networks and their dysfunction in PD and DBS therapy are promising targets for future research. Acknowledgement: Supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic - project CEITEC 2020 (LQ1601).