Resting-State EEG Reveals Regional Brain Activity Correlates in Alzheimer's and Frontotemporal Dementia

Abstract

Resting-state EEG records brain activity when awake but not engaged in tasks, analyzing frequency bands linked to cognitive states. Recent studies on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have found a link between EEG activity, MMSE scores, and age, though some findings are conflicting. This study aimed to explore EEG regional differences among AD and FTD, thereby improving diagnostic strategies. We analyzed EEG recordings from 88 participants in OpenNeuro Dataset ds004504, collected at AHEPA General Hospital using a Nihon Kohden 2100 EEG device. The study used preprocessed recordings, classification algorithms, and cognitive function assessments (MMSE) to identify significant predictors and correlations between EEG measures and cognitive variables. The study revealed that cognitive function, age, and brain activity show distinct relationships in AD and FTD. In AD, MMSE scores significantly predicted brain activity in regions like C3, C4, T4, and Fz, with better cognitive performance linked to higher EEG power in frontal and temporal areas. Conversely, age had a major influence on brain activity in FTD, particularly in regions like C3, P3, O1, and O2, while MMSE scores did not significantly predict brain activity. In FTD, higher EEG power in regions like P3, P4, Cz, and Pz correlated with lower cognitive function. Thus, the findings suggest that EEG biomarkers can enhance diagnostic strategies by highlighting different patterns of brain activity related to cognitive function and age in AD and FTD.