Quantitative Electroencephalography Characteristics for Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Individualized treatment guided by biomarkers certainly will play a crucial role in the more effective treatment of various neurological diseases in the near future. Identifying the electroencephalographic biomarkers in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may help in the decision-making process of health professionals regarding the non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) protocols. Objective: To summarize quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) characteristics of patients with PD with motor symptoms at rest or during movement to identify potential biomarker associated with motor impairment in PD. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS/BIREME, CINAHL/EBSCO, Web of Science, and CENTRAL, performed according to PRISMA-statement guidelines. Two independent authors searched for studies that reported qEEG data related to motor outcomes at rest or during movements in patients with PD and compared the data with control healthy group. The studies' methodological quality was examined using the Cochrane Handbook. Studies/sample characteristics, qEEG parameters/analyses, and the studies' results were summarized. Prospero-register: CRD42018085660. Results: Nineteen studies (18 cross-sectional/one cross-over) with 312 PD patients and 277 controls, published between 1994-2018, were included for the qualitative analysis. In comparison to healthy controls, our findings suggest a slowing down of the cortical activity in patients with PD due to an increase of slower band waves activity and a decrease of fast band waves at resting and during complex movement execution mainly in the central and frontal cortex. Conclusion: Slowing down of cortical waves suggest excitatory NIBS for motor impairment in PD. However, qEEG biomarker for motor symptoms of PD cannot be established yet because the studies that related qEEG with motor outcomes presented methodological poor quality.

The Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Quantitative EEG in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Despite strict guidance on quantitative EEG measures to monitor the effects of NIBS may not be provided, future studies should build on previous studies investigating changes in the EEG associated with PD and include at least more common measures used in previous NIBS studies to allow for comparability. For instance, a recent systematic review by Shirahige et al ( 52 ) that includes 19 studies with 312 patients with PD and 277 showed that patients with PD present slower EEG frequencies (i.e., increased slower frequencies and decreased faster frequencies) at rest and during the performance of complex movements. Such results may serve as a starting point to define possible quantitative EEG parameters.…”

The Effect of Neuroepo on Cognition in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Is Mediated by Electroencephalogram Source Activity

“…Electrophysiology has long been proposed as a reliable biomarker to discriminate between PD patients with healthy controls ( Waninger et al, 2020 ) and to evaluate the progression of PD patients and their cognitive impairment and decline, as reviewed in Cozac et al (2016) and Shirahige et al (2020) for quantitative EEG (qEEG) and Seer et al (2016) for ERPs. Additionally, recent studies have shown an association between qEEG parameters and cognitive variables during disease progression in PD ( Caviness et al, 2007 ; Klassen et al, 2011 ; Gu et al, 2014 ; Babiloni et al, 2017 ).…”

Use of Covariance Analysis in Electroencephalogram Reveals Abnormalities in Parkinson’s Disease

“…Electroencephalography monitors neural activity of the cerebral cortex in real time with high temporal resolution [16] providing dynamic information on the electrical brain activity and connectivity. Quantitative electroencephalography has been used to detect abnormalities in brain activity and identify cognitive impairment in early stages of PD [17,18]. In agreement with the above-mentioned information, differences in the power of brainwaves, δ (0-4 Hz), θ (4-8 Hz), α (8-13 Hz) and β (13-30 Hz), from PD patients have been described; for instance, increases in δ and θ brainwaves and decreases in α and β brainwaves [19].…”