J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2008 Aug;26(3):216-223.

Power Spectral Analysis of Resting EEG in Elderly Patients With Dementia of Alzheimer and Those With Major Depression in Comparison With Normal Healthy Control

• Park JH
• Lee JS
• Shim JO
• Lee JM

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Depression is one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric comorbidities of dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT). The aim of the present study was to compare the quantitative EEG changes in patients with DAT with those in old age depression (OAD).
METHODS
We recruited 39 subjects (mean age=65.4+/-5.9, 30 women, 13 DAT, 13 OAD, and 13 healthy controls) and performed the absolute and relative power spectral analyses for delta, theta, alpha, and beta activities.
RESULTS
The DAT group showed higher frequency of delta in all the topographic areas than the OAD and controls (p<0.05). Delta activity was more frequent in the DAT than OAD group in the bilateral central (C3, C4) and temporal areas (T3, T4) (p<0.05). Compared with the controls, the DAT group showed decreased alpha activity in the left central (C3) and temporal (T3) areas (p<0.05). Beta activity was increased in the OAD group (O1 and O2), compared with that in the other two groups (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Spectral analysis showed more prominent delta slowing in the DAT group, which is in line with more severe cognitive dysfunction in the DAT than the OAD group.

Keyword

Electroencephalography; Spectral analysis; Cognitive performance; Dementia of Alzheimer type; Old age depression

MeSH Terms

Aged
Comorbidity
Dementia
Depression
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans