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Auditory processing in AD: An EEG study
Author(s) -
Georgalli Christina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.058413
Subject(s) - audiology , event related potential , maladaptation , electroencephalography , psychology , latency (audio) , cognition , significant difference , disease , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , electrical engineering , engineering
Background Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is associated with cognitive impairment, behavioral disorders and memory loss, among others (Andrade, Cortes, Guzman‐Martinez and Maccioni, 2017; Cortés, Andrade and Maccioni, 2018; Tarawneh and Holtzman, 2012). By 2050, nearly 14 million (13.8 million) Americans over age 65 could be living with the disease (Hebert, Weuve, Scherr and Evans, 2013), a fact that highlights the importance of identifying and discriminating biomarkers; the reason why the study is mainly conducted: to indicate whether or not auditory deficits occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and memory deficits and hence to identify potential biomarkers. Method The study aims to compare measurements of amplitude for three different latencies which are between 0 and 50 ms, between 50 and 100ms and between 100 and 200ms for three different events such as new event, old event and difference between new and old event, using EEG data gathered from a specific memory task. Data have been collected from 136 participants based on two groups such as 73 participants belonged to the control group while 63 belonged to the patient group. The data were reliable and normal therefore analyzed with the help of t‐test. Result The results indicate that there is no significant difference between the control and patient groups at 0 to 50 amplitude latency. However, the study concluded a statistically significant difference between control and patient group at 50 to 100 and 100 to 200 ms amplitude latency. Conclusion EEGs with reduced levels of maladaptation reveal the presence of hidden neurodegenerative disorders and resistance to memory or psychiatric complaints such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. The importance of EEG in diagnosing differences in common causes of dementia depends on specific clinical issues. The results of this study allow us to claim that such differences in amplitude latencies might contribute to our knowledge about auditory processing in AD and such knowledge could be beneficial as a diagnostic criterion of the disease in the future.