Open AccessWhite matter vascular lesions are related to parietal‐to‐frontal coupling of EEG rhythms in mild cognitive impairment
Author(s) -
Babiloni Claudio,
Frisoni Giovanni B.,
Pievani Michela,
Vecchio Fabrizio,
Infarinato Francesco,
Geroldi Cristina,
Salinari Serenella,
Ferri Raffaele,
Fracassi Claudia,
Eusebi Fabrizio,
Rossini Paolo M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.20467
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , white matter , psychology , rhythm , neuroscience , cardiology , audiology , posterior parietal cortex , magnetic resonance imaging , resting state fmri , medicine , radiology
Do cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease (AD) lesions represent additive factors in the development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as a putative preclinical stage of AD? Here we tested the hypothesis that directionality of fronto‐parietal functional coupling of electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms is relatively preserved in amnesic MCI subjects in whom the cognitive decline is mainly explained by white‐matter vascular load. Resting EEG was recorded in 40 healthy elderly (Nold) and 78 amnesic MCI. In the MCI subjects, white‐matter vascular load was quantified based on magnetic resonance images (0–30 visual rating scale). EEG rhythms of interest were δ (2–4 Hz), θ (4–8 Hz), α1 (8–10.5 Hz), α2 (10.5–13 Hz), β1 (13–20 Hz), and β2 (20–30 Hz). Directionality of fronto‐parietal functional coupling of EEG rhythms was estimated by directed transfer function software. As main results, (i) fronto‐parietal functional coupling of EEG rhythms was higher in magnitude in the Nold than in the MCI subjects; (ii) more interestingly, that coupling was higher at θ, α1, α2, and β1 in MCI V+ (high vascular load; N = 42; MMSE = 26) than in MCI V− group (low vascular load; N = 36; MMSE= 26.7). These results are interpreted as supporting the additive model according to which MCI state would result from the combination of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative lesions. Hum Brain Mapp 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.