The single eeg in alzheimer's disease: What value for prognosis?

The article reports an investigation into whether abnormal EEG patterns are predictive of faster rate of decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Data for 24 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria) were analysed. Patients were divided into two groups, those with normal EEG pattern (N = 9) and those with abnormal EEG pattern (N = 15). There was no difference between the initial MMSE and CAMCOG scores for either group. There was also no difference in terms of rate of decline, as measured by MMSE and CAMCOG scores, between patients with normal and abnormal EEG records. We therefore conclude that the single EEG is of limited value in predicting rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer patients.