Slowing on quantitative EEG is associated with transition to dementia in mild cognitive impairment

Hamilton, Calum A.; Schumacher, Julia; Matthews, Fiona; Taylor, John Paul; Allan, Louise; Barnett, Nicola; Cromarty, Ruth A.; Donaghy, Paul C.; Durcan, Rory; Firbank, Michael; Lawley, Sarah; O'Brien, John T.; Roberts, Gemma; Thomas, Alan J.

Abstract

Electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities are greater in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) than in MCI due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD) and may anticipate the onset of dementia. We aimed to assess whether quantitative EEG (qEEG) slowing would predict a higher annual hazard of dementia in MCI across these etiologies. MCI patients (n = 92) and healthy comparators (n = 31) provided qEEG recording and underwent longitudinal clinical and cognitive follow-up. Associations between qEEG slowing, measured by increased theta/alpha ratio, and clinical progression from MCI to dementia were estimated with a multistate transition model to account for death as a competing risk, while controlling for age, cognitive function, and etiology classified by an expert consensus panel. Over a mean follow-up of 1.5 years (SD = 0.5), 14 cases of incident dementia and 5 deaths were observed. Increased theta/alpha ratio on qEEG was associated with increased annual hazard of dementia (hazard ratio = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.01-3.35). This extends previous findings that MCI-LB features early functional changes, showing that qEEG slowing may anticipate the onset of dementia in prospectively identified MCI.

Citation

Hamilton, C. A., Schumacher, J., Matthews, F., Taylor, J. P., Allan, L., Barnett, N., …Thomas, A. J. (2021). Slowing on quantitative EEG is associated with transition to dementia in mild cognitive impairment. International Psychogeriatrics, 33(12), 1321-1325. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610221001083

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 23, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 23, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 30, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 3, 2024
• Journal: International Psychogeriatrics
• Print ISSN: 1041-6102
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-203X
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 1321-1325
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610221001083
• Keywords: Quantitative electroencephalography; Mild cognitive impairment; Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4451066