Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease: relationship between cognitive aspects and quantitative electroencephalographic measures

• Grant number: 12/00287-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal researcher: Lineu Corrêa Fonseca
• Grantee: Priscila Do Nascimento Carvas
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências da Vida. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-CAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the two commonest neurodegenerative afflictions affecting the aged. Cognitive disorders compose the diagnostic criteria of AD and are common in PD. A study of relationships between the variables of the quantitative electroencephalographic measures (qEEG), and specific cognitive aspects could contribute to knowledge concerning their physiopathology and diagnosis. The objective of the present study is to comparatively evaluate the relationships between coherence and absolute band power in the qEEG, and cognitive aspects of patients with AD and PD. About 40 patients from the outpatients department of the Neurology Clinic of the PUC-Campinas Hospital with a diagnosis of PD (criteria of Calne et al., 11992), and 40 patients diagnosed with AD (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, and NINCDS/ADRDA, McKhann et al., 1984) will be assessed. The procedures will be: CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer´s disease), executive functions, memory tests, abstract thinking (CAMDEX), and qEEG analysis of the absolute power and coherence in the classical bands. A comparison will be made between the findings for the AD and PD groups (with and without dementia), and with a control group of 50 individuals with no cognitive decline or neurological disorders or previous psychiatric problems. (AU)