Relationship between cortical neural synchronization at alpha resting‐state electroencephalographic rhythms and education attainment in normal elderly subjects and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease

Background In normal old (Nold) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) persons, a high cognitive reserve makes them more resistant and resilient to brain neuropathology and neurodegeneration. Here we tested whether these effects may affect neurophysiological oscillatory mechanisms generating dominant resting state electroencephalographic (rsEEG) alpha rhythms in Nold and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (ADMCI). Method Data in 60 Nold and 70 ADMCI participants, stratified in higher (Edu+) and lower (Edu‐) educational attainment subgroups, were available in an Italian‐Turkish archive. The subgroups were matched for age, gender, and education. RsEEG cortical sources were estimated by eLORETA freeware. Result As compared to the Nold‐Edu‐ subgroup, the Nold‐Edu+ subgroup showed greater alpha source activations topographically widespread. On the contrary, in relation to the ADMCI‐Edu‐ subgroup, the ADMCI‐Edu+ subgroup displayed lower alpha source activations topographically widespread (Figure 1). Furthermore, the two ADMCI subgroups had matched cerebrospinal AD diagnostic biomarkers, brain gray‐white matter measures, and neuropsychological scores. Conclusion The current findings suggest that a high cognitive reserve may be related to changes in rsEEG alpha rhythms in Nold and ADMCI persons. These changes may underlie neuroprotective effects in Nold seniors and subtend functional compensatory mechanisms unrelated to brain structure alterations in ADMCI patients.