Resting state EEG as biomarker of cognitive training and physical activity’s joint effect in Parkinson’s patients with mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Background Cognitive decline is a major factor for the deterioration of the quality of life in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recently, it was reported that cognitive training (CT) in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) led to an increase of physical activity (PA) accompanied by improved executive function (EF). Moreover, PA has been shown to alter positively brain function and cognitive abilities in PD. Both observations suggest an interaction between CT and PA. Objectives A previous multicenter (MC) study was slightly significant when considering independent effects of interventions (CT and PA) on EF. Here, we use MC constituent single center data that showed no effect of interventions on EF. Thus, this exploratory study considers pooling data from both interventions to gain insight into a recently reported interaction between CT and PA and provide a proof of principle for the usefulness of resting state EEG as a neurophysiological biomarker of joint intervention’s effect on EF and attention in PD-MCI. Methods Pre- and post-intervention resting state EEG and neuropsychological scores (EF and attention) were obtained from 19 PD-MCI patients (10 (CT) and 9 (PA)). We focused our EEG analysis on frontal cortical areas due to their relevance on cognitive function. Results We found a significant joint effect of interventions on EF and a trend on attention, as well as trends for the negative correlation between attention and theta power (pre), the positive correlation between EF and alpha power (post) and a significant negative relationship between attention and theta power over time (post-pre). Conclusions Our results support the role of theta and alpha power at frontal areas as a biomarker for the therapeutic joint effect of interventions.

Two-week Computerized Cognitive Training Affects Resting-State Electroencephalographic Rhythms in Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Cognitive Deficits

“…Specifically, the rsEEG delta and theta rhythms were reduced in magnitude after the CCT program compared to the control Sham program. These findings extend recent evidence showing that a combined eight-week program with CCT and physical activity in a hospital setting induced beneficial effects on cognitive functions that (negatively) correlated with rsEEG theta rhythms [39].…”

“…They showed decreased activity of rsEEG delta, theta, and beta rhythms in older MCI patients and improved cognitive functions after a combined eight-week program with CCT and physical activity [38]. Along the same line, a recent study in PDCD patients showed that a combined eight-week program with CCT and physical activity in hospital settings induced beneficial effects of cognitive functions in negative correlation with rsEEG theta rhythms and positive correlation with rsEEG beta rhythms [39].…”

Differences in Electroencephalography Power Levels between Poor and Good Performance in Attentional Tasks

“…Moreover, the lower EEG power level of the right hemisphere may be representative of lower attentional skill, as the result suggested that δ wave of bilateral parietal, β, γ waves of R-occipital lobe, θ wave of R-frontal, and especially α wave of bilateral frontal lobe were lower in the low-attention group. The role of θ and α power in frontal areas can be biomarkers for both cognitive and physical performances [ 29 ]. The frontal poles are brain regions that play a key role in emotional regulation and cognitive abilities [ 30 ].…”

Pathobiology of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson Disease: Challenges and Outlooks

“…These network changes were negatively correlated with cognitive function in early PD [ 304 ]. A significant joint effect of interventions on EF and task-based changes for the negative correlation between attention and θ power, a positive correlation between EF and α power, and a significant negative relationship between attention and θ power were found over time [ 305 ]. Cognitive deficits were further underlined by alterations at the brain network level, including higher δ and θ activity, lower α and β activity, increased connectivity, and segregated network organization [ 306 ].…”