Title
Donepezil effects on sources of cortical rhythms in mild Alzheimer's disease: Responders vs. Non-Responders.
Abstract
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) such as donepezil act in mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) by increasing cholinergic tone. Differences in the clinical response in patients who do or do not benefit from therapy may be due to different functional features of the central neural systems. We tested this hypothesis using cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythmicity. Resting eyes-closed EEG data were recorded in 58 mild AD patients (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE] range 17–24) before and approximately 1 year after standard donepezil treatment. Based on changes of MMSE scores between baseline and follow-up, 28 patients were classified as “Responders” (MMSEvar ≥0) and 30 patients as “Non-Responders” (MMSEvar <0). EEG rhythms of interest were delta (2–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha 1 (8–10.5 Hz), alpha 2 (10.5–13 Hz), beta 1 (13–20 Hz), and beta 2 (20–30 Hz). Cortical EEG sources were studied with low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Before treatment, posterior sources of delta, alpha 1 and alpha 2 frequencies were greater in amplitude in Non-Responders. After treatment, a lesser magnitude reduction of occipital and temporal alpha 1 sources characterized Responders. These results suggest that Responders and Non-Responders had different EEG cortical rhythms. Donepezil could act by reactivating existing yet functionally silent cortical synapses in Responders, restoring temporal and occipital alpha rhythms.
Year
DOI
Venue
2006
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.02.015
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
Mild Alzheimer's disease (mild AD),Donepezil,Electroencephalography (EEG),Alpha rhythm,Low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA)
Brain mapping,Acetylcholinesterase,Developmental psychology,Alzheimer's disease,Donepezil,Psychology,Cholinergic,Electroencephalography,Magnetoencephalography,Mini–Mental State Examination
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
31
4
1053-8119
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.80
1
Authors
16