Objective: To evaluate whether Tsallis entropy (TE) constitutes a possible functional characterization of neurodegeneration and a measure to predict progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: TE, a concept of statistical physics, has successfully been applied to EEG recordings for prediction of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [Sneddon et al., 2006]. With the advent of modern treatment concepts for motor signs of PD, prognosis of PD largely depends on cognitive decline. Therefore, if TE of EEG recordings allows prediction of cognitive decline also in PD, it might allow to determine the overall prognosis of PD.

Method: EEG of 46 PD patients and 16 healthy controls matched for age, sex and education were compared. EEG recordings were obtained during eyes open (EO) as well as eyes closed (EC) condition. Relative band power (delta, theta, alpha and beta/gamma) as well as TE were evaluated specifically on regions where healthy controls (HC) and patients suffering from PD showed distinct differences. These results were then compared across groups with psychological test scores at baseline and 3 year follow-up with scores from comprehensive psychological testing. Statistical analysis included tree based gradient boosting classification and Pearson’s correlation.

Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients with PD show lower TE, especially over frontal regions in the theta band. TE in the left temporal region showed a significant correlation with psychological test scores for attention, fluency and working Memory after 3 years. TE during EC condition correlated with cognitive outcome: r=0.29; p=0.047. In EO condition the correlations were: 0.31 < r < 0.44; 0.002 < p < 0.04.

Conclusion: TE is reduced in PD. This points to increased coupling between neural generators and might be a sign of reduced information processing capacity. TE measured during EO condition is significantly correlated with future cognitive decline of PD patients.TE measured during EO condition is significantly correlated with future cognitive decline of PD patients.

References: [Sneddon et al., 2006] Sneddon, R., Shankle, W. R., Hara, J., Rodriquez, A., Hoffman, D., and Saha, U. (2006). QEEG Monitoring of Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment: A preliminary report of three case studies. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 37(1):54–59.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/tsallis-entropy-of-eeg-correlates-with-future-cognitive-decline-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/