Premium
Electroencephalographic functional connectivity is altered in persons with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Musaeus C. S.,
Salem L. C.,
Kjaer T. W.,
Waldemar G.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/jir.12803
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , dementia , phase lag , psychology , audiology , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , alzheimer's disease , down syndrome , alpha (finance) , correlation , beta (programming language) , neuroscience , disease , physical medicine and rehabilitation , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , psychometrics , statistics , construct validity , geometry , mathematics , computer science , programming language
Background Persons with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia (DS‐AD). Due to heterogeneity in the functioning in persons with DS, it is difficult to use cognitive testing to assess whether a person with DS has developed dementia due to AD. Electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity has shown promising results as a diagnostic tool for AD in persons without DS. In the current exploratory study, we investigated whether EEG functional connectivity could be used as a diagnostic marker of AD in persons with DS and the association with symptoms. Methods Electroencephalography from 12 persons with DS and 16 persons with DS‐AD were analysed, and both coherence and weighted phase lag index were calculated. In addition, we calculated the average coherence for fronto‐parietal and temporo‐parietal connections. Lastly, we investigated the correlation between the informant‐based Dementia Screening Questionnaire in Intellectual Disability (DSQIID) and total alpha coherence. Results Decreased alpha and increased delta coherence and weighted phase lag index were observed in DS‐AD as compared with DS. The decrease in alpha coherence was more marked in the fronto‐parietal connections as compared with the temporo‐parietal connections. No significant correlation was found between DSQIID and total alpha coherence ( P value = 0.095, rho = −0.335). Conclusion The decreased alpha coherence and weighted phase lag index have previously been found in AD. The increased delta coherence and weighted phase lag index may indicate a different initial neurophysiological presentation as compared with patients with AD or may be a sign of more advanced disease. Larger studies are needed to confirm the current findings.