Task-related EEG activation as a biomarker for early Alzheimer's Disease

项目总结/摘要 这个项目的主要目标是检查一种特定形式的任务相关的脑电活动，作为一个 早期阿尔茨海默病的潜在新生物标志物。 尽管最近在开发阿尔茨海默病的生物标志物方面取得了进展，但现有的一套生物标志物仍然存在。 措施面临着与侵入性、成本、高技术要求和低成本有关的限制。 可访问性。为了帮助解决这些挑战，本项目将研究EEG中额 θ功率（MFT），作为一种潜在的廉价，非侵入性，易于实施 替代.有人提出，由于阿尔茨海默病涉及认知和 神经储备，在早期阶段的个人应该需要增加脑力劳动，以实现 任务表现的水平。反过来，EEG MFT与精神消耗密切相关， 因此可能在阿尔茨海默病早期过度激活。 为了评估MFT作为早期阿尔茨海默病精神活动生物标志物的潜力， 该项目将招募三组老年人（每组n = 40; 65岁或以上; 50% 女性），他们要么是认知完整的，要么符合轻度认知遗忘的诊断标准 损伤或早期阿尔茨海默病。该项目的第一个目的是检查 MFT在这三个组中，同时控制任务表现的差异。的 本项目的第二个目的是检查MFT对特定认知功能缺陷的敏感性， 功能技能，往往在疾病的早期阶段受到影响。 为了实现这些目标，参与者将完成一个单一的，三个小时的研究会议，涉及 简短的诊断电池，认知和功能技能的评估（工具活动， 日常生活），以及休息和任务相关的EEG记录。MFT将使用简单的 任务，是公认的，以引出MFT和相关的信号，在这些群体。先前的研究 显示这些群体在这些任务上的表现很大程度上重叠。在此基础上，分析 将检查（1）轻度认知障碍和早期阿尔茨海默氏症患者 当表现在与完整个体相同的水平时，疾病表现出更大的MFT，以及（2） MFT是否与更复杂的认知和功能技能有差异。 如果成功的话，这项拟议中的研究可能很快会改善临床试验的筛选， 并最终改善阿尔茨海默病本身的早期诊断。因为EEG MFT是 相对便宜，容易获得，易于实施，它具有广泛的潜力， 快速传播。这个项目与国家老龄问题研究所的使命是一致的。

Project Summary/Abstract The primary goal of this project is to examine a specific form of task-related EEG activity, as a potential novel biomarker for early Alzheimer’s disease. Despite recent progress in developing biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, the existing suite of measures faces limitations related to invasiveness, cost, high technological demands, and low accessibility. To help address these challenges, this project will investigate EEG mid-frontal theta power (MFT), as a potentially inexpensive, non-invasive, and easily-implemented alternative. It is proposed that because Alzheimer’s disease involves the loss of cognitive and neural reserve, individuals in early stages should require increased mental exertion to achieve a given level of task performance. In turn, EEG MFT has been strongly linked to mental exertion, and as such may be over-activated in early Alzheimer’s stages. To assess the potential of MFT as a biomarker of mental exertion in early Alzheimer’s disease, this project will recruit three groups of older adults (n = 40 each; 65 years-old or older; 50% female) who are either cognitively-intact, or meet diagnostic criteria for amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease. The first Aim of the project is to examine differences in MFT across these three groups, while controlling for differences in task performance. The second Aim of the project is to examine the sensitivity of MFT to deficits in specific cognitive and functional skills that tend to be affected in earlier disease stages. To achieve these Aims, participants will complete a single, three-hour study session, involving a brief diagnostic battery, assessments of cognitive and functional skills (instrumental activities of daily living), and resting and task-related EEG recordings. MFT will be measured using a simple task that is well-established to elicit MFT and related signals in these groups. Prior research has shown that performance on such tasks largely overlaps in these groups. On that basis, analyses will examine whether (1) individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment and early Alzheimer’s disease exhibit greater MFT when performing at the same level as intact individuals, and (2) whether MFT differentially relates to more complex cognitive and functional skills. If successful, the proposed research could soon lead to improved screening for clinical trials, and eventually to improved early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease itself. Because EEG MFT is comparatively inexpensive, accessible, and easy-to-implement, it has the potential for wide and rapid dissemination. This project is consistent with the mission of the National Institute on Aging.