Gamma oscillations weaken with age in healthy elderly in human EEG

Gamma rhythms (~20–70 ​Hz) are abnormal in mental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia in humans, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) models in rodents. However, the effect of normal aging on these oscillations is unknown, especially for elderly subjects in whom AD is most prevalent. In a first large-scale (236 subjects; 104 females) electroencephalogram (EEG) study on gamma oscillations in elderly subjects (aged 50–88 years), we presented full-screen visual Cartesian gratings that induced two distinct gamma oscillations (slow: 20–34 ​Hz and fast: 36–66 ​Hz). Power decreased with age for gamma, but not alpha (8–12 ​Hz). Reduction was more salient for fast gamma than slow. Center frequency also decreased with age for both gamma rhythms. The results were independent of microsaccades, pupillary reactivity to stimulus, and variations in power spectral density with age. Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) at 32 ​Hz also reduced with age. These results are crucial for developing gamma/SSVEP-based biomarkers of cognitive decline in elderly. •First large-scale EEG study on narrowband gamma in cognitively normal elderly.•Power and center frequency of slow and fast gamma decreased with age.•This result was independent of ocular factors and baseline absolute power.•Steady-state visual evoked potentials in gamma range also decreased with age.•In contrast, stimulus-induced change in alpha power did not decrease with age.