EEG and MRI correlates of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

van der Hiele, K.; Vein, A.A.; van der Welle, A.; van der Grond, J.; Westendorp, R.G.J.; Bollen, E.L.E.M.; van Buchem, M.A.; van Dijk, J.G.; Middelkoop, H.A.M.

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.06.006

« Previous Next »Neurobiology of Aging
Volume 28, Issue 9 , Pages 1322-1329, September 2007

EEG and MRI correlates of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

K. van der Hiele
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31 71 526 2125; fax: +31 71 526 6671.
A.A. Vein
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
A. van der Welle
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
J. van der Grond
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
R.G.J. Westendorp
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
E.L.E.M. Bollen
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
M.A. van Buchem
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
J.G. van Dijk
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
H.A.M. Middelkoop
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

Received 21 March 2006; received in revised form 17 May 2006; accepted 12 June 2006. published online 20 July 2006.

Abstract

Objective

To investigate whether cognitive function in the spectrum of normal aging to Alzheimer's disease is better reflected in MRI or EEG measures, or a combination of both.

Methods

Cognitive functions were tested in 33 elderly subjects: 10 with probable Alzheimer's disease, 11 with mild cognitive impairment and 12 controls. Structural brain parameters were derived from conventional MRI and a quantitative MR technique called magnetization transfer imaging. The EEG provided measures of brain function. We performed multiple linear regression analyses to relate EEG and MRI parameters to global cognition, memory, language and psychomotor speed.

Results

The model showed EEG alpha reactivity during eyes open to be the primary factor associated with global cognition, memory and language skills. Brain atrophy was the primary factor associated with psychomotor speed. Furthermore, EEG alpha reactivity during eyes open explained significant additional variability in psychomotor speed.