Objective: We performed an exploratory analysis of the correlation of brain activity measured using qEEG and early cognitive function in patients with de novo PD.

Background: Brain activity analyzed using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) has been correlated with cognitive function in various neurological disorders.

Method: In this study, 75 de novo PD patients were included. They were evaluated using the clinical unified Parkinson disease rating scale-motor part (UPDRS-III), Hoehn and Yahr stage, Korean-form Mini-Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), and Korean-form Montreal Cognitive Assessment (K-MOCA). Resting state EEG was acquired. The relative spectral power ratio (rPSD) of each EEB band was analyzed in the frontal, central, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices. The variables acquired using qEEG were compared between groups of patients according to the median K-MMSE and K-MOCA score. The relationship of cognitive and motor functions with rPSD in each cortical area was analyzed using linear regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 69.7 ± 8.8 years (M/F ratio, 34/41). qEEG analysis showed a significantly larger rPSD for the delta and theta bands in the frontal and temporal cortices and larger rPSD for the theta band in the central, parietal, and occipital cortices in patients with lower K-MMSE scores (≤26). There was larger rPSD for the theta band in the frontal, central, and parietal cortices in patients with lower K-MOCA scores (≤21) than in those with higher K-MOCA scores (>21). The rPSD for the high alpha band in the temporal and parietal cortices and rPSD for the middle beta band in the temporal cortex was found in patients with lower K-MMSE scores, whereas the rPSD for the middle beta band in the frontal, central, temporal, and parietal cortices was observed in patients with lower K-MOCA score.

Conclusion: The results in this study showed that increased rPSD for slow frequency waves (delta and theta bands) and decreased rPSD for high frequency waves (high alpha and middle beta bands) are related with worse cognitive function in de novo PD patients. qEEG may be used to identify a possible biomarker reflecting worse cognitive function in the early stage of de novo PD patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/correlation-of-brain-activity-measured-using-quantitative-electroencephalography-and-cognitive-function-in-patients-with-de-novo-parkinsons-disease/