ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF PERIVENTRICULAR WHITE-MATTER LESIONS IN PROBABLE ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

We evaluated the relationship between periventricular white matter les ions (PWMLs) and EEG abnormalities in probable Alzheimer's disease (AD ). We visually analyzed the EEG of 27 probable AD patients with mild t o moderate degree of cognitive impairment participating in a longitudi nal study of dementia. Patients had both CT and MRT scans performed at baseline examination, which also included an EEG. PWMLs were rated in CT and MRI films using a semiquantitative method. The EEGs were class ified according to the Mayo Clinic Classification System. Abnormal EEG s correlated with PWMLs rating scores were detected on CT, but not on MRI. These data suggest that the presence of PWMLs contribute to the a bnormal EEGs observed in AD patients, and that white matter abnormalit ies in CT correlate better with both the clinical findings and EEG tha n does the more sensitive but less specific MRI.