QUANTIFIED-EEG IN NORMAL AGING AND DEMENTIAS

The value of quantitative electroencephalography (q-EEG) in the differ ential diagnosis of multi-infarct dementia (MID) and dementia of Alzhe imer's type (DAT) is controversial. To evaluate the possible diagnosti c role of q-EEG in these two conditions we studied 18 healthy adults, 16 healthy elderly (HE), 29 DAT patients and 45 MID patients. MID pati ents showed a significant increase of delta activity on the occipital regions, a significant widespread increase of theta activity, a signif icant widespread decrease of alpha activity. DAT patients showed a sig nificant widespread increase of delta and theta activity, a significan t widespread decrease of alpha activity. Spectral profile analysis sho wed an asymptotic exponential peak frequency at 4.33 HZ, and the disap pearance of dominant activity in DAT patients; a 1 Hz decrease of peak frequency with a preserved normal profile in MID patients. We conclud e that q-EEG is a useful ancillary test to differentiate MID from DAT.