Reduced Resting-State Cortical Alpha Connectivity Reflects Distinct Functional Brain Dysconnectivity in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Emerging evidence suggests distinct abnormal activity patterns during resting state in intrinsic functional brain networks in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study aimed to identify the changes in the resting-state intracortical lagged phase synchronization derived from dense array electroencephalography (EEG) in AD and MCI. Methods: Resting-state current source density (CSD) and lagged phase synchronization between 84 regions of interest defined by Brodmann areas (BAs) for seven EEG frequency bands were investigated between the study groups (AD, MCI, and age-matched controls) using 128-channel EEG. Results: Reduced CSD and connectivity (large effect size, Cohen's d> 0.8) were found in AD and MCI compared with controls at alpha frequency. However, a positive correlation (r= 0.433; p = 0.044) of mini-mental state examination scores was found with BA 32-33 connectivity values in AD only. Conclusion: Reduced resting-state alpha 1 source connectivity in patient groups and correlation between attenuation of resting-state alpha 1 connectivity with cognitive decline in AD could indicate the disruption of inhibitory function of alpha rhythm leading to tonic unselective cortical excitation that affects attention and controlled access to stored information.

Automated summary

This study found distinct abnormal activity patterns in resting state intrinsic functional brain networks in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using EEG analysis. Reduced connectivity and current source density were observed in the patient groups compared to controls, and a positive correlation between connectivity values in specific brain areas and cognitive decline was found only in the AD group.