Resting-State Posterior Alpha Rhythms Are Abnormal In Subjective Memory Complaint Seniors With Preclinical Alzheimer’s Neuropathology And High Education Level: The Insight-Pread Study

Abstract Cognitive reserve (CR) is present in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) seniors with high education attainment making them clinically resilient to extended brain neuropathology and neurodegeneration. Here we tested whether subjective memory complaint (SMC) seniors with AD neuropathology and high education attainment of the prospective INSIGHT-preAD cohort (Paris), may present abnormal eyes-closed resting state posterior electroencephalographic (rsEEG) rhythms around individual alpha frequency peak (IAFp), typically altered in AD patients. The SMC participants negative to amyPET AD markers (SMCneg) with high (over low-moderate) education level showed higher posterior alpha 2 power density (possibly “neuroprotective”). Furthermore, amyPET-positive SMC (SMCpos) participants with high (over low-moderate) education level showed higher temporal alpha 3 power density (possibly “neuroprotective”) and lower posterior alpha 2 power density (possibly “compensatory”). This effect may reflect CR as no differences in brain gray-white matter and cognitive functions were observed between these SMCpos/SMCneg sub-groups. Preclinical Alzheimer’s neuropathology may interact with education attainment and neurophysiological mechanisms generating cortical alpha rhythms around IAFp (i.e., alpha 2 and 3) in quiet wakefulness.