Region and frequency specific changes of spectral power in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Objectives To find out whether healthy control (HC), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjects exhibit region and frequency specific spectral power differences and whether the spectral power changes correlate with domain-specific cognitive function. Methods Forty-one AD, 38 aMCI, and 39 HC subjects underwent quantitative EEG and comprehensive neuropsychological tests. Repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to identify differences in EEG spectral power among the three groups by scalp region and EEG frequency. Correlations between region and frequency specific spectral powers and neuropsychological test scores were evaluated. Results Temporal and parieto-occipital theta band powers were highest in AD. Whereas, parieto-occipital alpha and frontal and temporal beta 2 band powers were highest in HC and lowest in AD ( p < 0.05). Temporal and parieto-occipital theta powers negatively correlated with verbal and visuospatial memory recall, while parieto-occipital alpha and temporal beta 2 powers positively correlated with verbal memory recall ( p < 0.01). Conclusions Region and frequency specific oscillatory characteristics of EEG reflect domain-specific cognitive function in patients with aMCI and AD. Significance Region and frequency specific spectral powers have clinical implications as additional markers differentiating AD, aMCI, and HC.