Open Access Research Article

Comparison of Cholinergic Status with Quantitative EEG in Healthy Subjects and Patients Suspected of Dementia

Rolf Ekedahl*

Department of Neurophysiology, Sweden

Corresponding Author

Received Date: April 07, 2019;  Published Date: April 12, 2019

Abstract

Introduction: Objective is to evaluate quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) variables to distinguish healthy subjects from patients who investigated for dementia and, to assess also at follow-up examination if acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) treatment or not influenced the qEEG.

Methods: Average value from four EEG epochs obtained with eyes closed (E.Cl.) and eyes open (E.O.), the peak frequency with eyes closed and the Vigilance-index (ratio of E.O./E.Cl. average powers) calculated. A healthy group and a group suspected of having primary dementia compared, and the assumed dementia group evaluated with follow-up qEEG after approximately 12-14 months with or without acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment. The statistical analyze (Student`s t-test) p-values compared the healthy individuals against the suspected dementia patients, and at follow-up of AChEI treated against non-treated analyzed with paired p-values.

Result: When the healthy group compared with suspected dementia group at baseline, all variables were altered statistically significant except E.Cl. average power. The Vigilance-index (p-value < 0.001) and average power of E.O. (p-value < 0.001) increased, and the mean peak- frequency (p-value < 0.001) decreased. At the follow-up for the suspected dementia group, the Vigilance-index of the untreated increased significantly (p-value < 0.001) but not for the AChEI treated group. No other statistically significant changes for the other parameters.

Conclusion: The Vigilance-index may be used to assess cholinergic deficits in patients with dementia, also early in the course of the disease and evaluate the effects of AChEI treatment. Also, identify unwanted central cholinergic side-effects of other medication.

Abbreviations:Electroencephalography; Desynchronization; Dementia; Acetylcholine; Cholinesterase inhibitors, Alzheimer’s dementia; Lewy body disease; Humans; Biomarkers; Follow-up studies

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