Disturbed oscillatory brain dynamics in subcortical ischemic vascular dementia

• Main Authors: van Straaten Elisabeth CW, de Haan Willem, de Waal Hanneke, Scheltens Philip, van der Flier Wiesje M, Barkhof Frederik, Koene Ted, Stam Cornelis J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-07-01
• Series: BMC Neuroscience
• Subjects: EEG; Oscillations; Spectral analysis; Relative power; Vascular dementia; Cognition; White matter
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2202/13/85

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>White matter hyperintensities (WMH) can lead to dementia but the underlying physiological mechanisms are unclear. We compared relative oscillatory power from electroencephalographic studies (EEGs) of 17 patients with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia, based on extensive white matter hyperintensities (SIVD-WMH) with 17 controls to investigate physiological changes underlying this diagnosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Differences between the groups were large, with a decrease of relative power of fast activity in patients (alpha power 0.25 ± 0.12 versus 0.38 ± 0.13, p = 0.01; beta power 0.08 ± 0.04 versus 0.19 ± 0.07; p<0.001) and an increase in relative powers of slow activity in patients (theta power 0.32 ± 0.11 versus 0.14 ± 0.09; p<0.001 and delta power 0.31 ± 0.14 versus 0.23 ± 0.09; p<0.05). Lower relative beta power was related to worse cognitive performance in a linear regression analysis (standardized beta = 0.67, p<0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This pattern of disturbance in oscillatory brain activity indicate loss of connections between neurons, providing a first step in the understanding of cognitive dysfunction in SIVD-WMH.</p>