ABSTRACT
According to the clinical criteria of ‘probable’ Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the diagnosis is supported by a normal pattern or nonspecific changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) such as slow wave activity. EEG has been a traditional method in the diagnosis of dementia. Slight EEG alterations are common in normal elderly people after the age of 60 years. The main changes are slowing of the alpha rhythm, appearance of slow activity and a theta focus in left temporal region. However, the changes in EEG associated with aging are quite modest. EEG changes associated with AD consist of more slowing of the dominant occipital rhythm and more accentuation of theta and delta activity than is found in normal old people, but local slowing occurs rarely. When the EEG findings of AD patients at baseline, at the time the diagnosis was made, were compared to control values, there was a significant difference in all relative power values except beta power.
