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36 - The Role of Electroencephalography in Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Development

from Section 4 - Imaging and Biomarker Development in Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2022

By
Willem de Haan  and
Niels Prins
Edited by
Jeffrey Cummings ,
Jefferson Kinney  and
Howard Fillit
Jeffrey Cummings
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jefferson Kinney
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Howard Fillit
Affiliation:
Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
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Summary

The clinical value of EEG in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) trials is increasingly recognized, offering a practical, patient-friendly assessment of neurophysiological response to novel treatment. Its non-invasive, task-independent, and relatively straightforward mode of operation make it a suitable candidate for longitudinal trials in patients with cognitive impairment. The visual analysis in EEG has led to the well-described process of diffuse oscillatory slowing in AD. It is complemented by advanced quantitative analysis methods, giving a more accurate and diverse overview along the AD disease course, such as loss of functional connectivity and functional network structure. Many of these neurophysiological changes are linked to AD pathology and cognitive decline, and recent trials have implicated the practical feasibility and potency of EEG-based markers. In this chapter, we discuss what EEG analysis techniques are most useful for AD research, the hallmark EEG changes in AD, and insights from recent trials assessing the effect of new compounds on EEG activity. We offer a practical view on the most essential elements for obtaining consistent data quality in multi-center trials.

Keywords

electroencephalographyEEGAlzheimerneurophysiologydementiaspectral analysisfunctional connectivitynetwork analysisbrain activity.
Type
Chapter
Information
Alzheimer's Disease Drug Development
Research and Development Ecosystem
 , pp. 418 - 428
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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