Healthy aging: Relationship between quantitative electroencephalogram and cognition

This study had two goals: (a) to describe the results of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) and of the quantitative analyses of electroencephalograms (EEG) in elderly adults (60–84 y.o.) that are both healthy and active, and (b) to explore the relationship between the WAIS-III results and EEG in this group. A correlation analysis was made between WAIS-III scores and the Z-transformed absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) values of delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. Lower values of delta and theta and higher values of alpha AP and RP were significantly related to better scores in the WAIS-III subtest scores. There were few significant relationships between WAIS-III scores and beta activity. These results suggest that the WAIS-III could be used as a brain function indicator in this age group, paying special attention to the subtests that correlated most significantly with EEG values.

► We correlated cognitive scores and electroencephalograms of healthy elderly adults.
► Lower delta and theta values were significantly related to better cognitive scores.
► Better cognitive performance generally correlated with higher alpha values.
► Specific scores could be used as a brain function indicator in this age group.