Increased Pre-Alpha Functional Connectivity in Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at D'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara has shed new light on the neural mechanisms underlying dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease, analyzed electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 73 DLB patients, 70 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and 41 healthy control participants. The findings suggest that DLB patients exhibit increased fronto-occipital connectivity at the theta and pre-alpha bands, as well as reduced alpha connectivity compared to the AD and healthy control groups. This research provides valuable insights into the pathophysiology of DLB and may lead to the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that DLB patients showed increased fronto-occipital connectivity at the theta and pre-alpha bands, which suggests enhanced functional connectivity within long fronto-occipital tracts.
  • Compared to the AD and healthy control groups, DLB patients displayed reduced alpha connectivity, which may be related to the presence of a pre-alpha rhythm in DLB patients.
  • The results of this study suggest that pre-alpha activity in DLB patients may not be a local process, but rather a reflection of enhanced functional connectivity within long brain networks.
  • The study involved 73 DLB patients, 70 AD patients, and 41 healthy control participants from seven European DLB Consortium Centers.
  • Giulia Prete and her team at D'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara used eLORETA to calculate lagged linear connectivity (LLC) from EEG sources at different frequency bands.
  • The study's findings have implications for the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies for DLB and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Statistics:

  • 73 DLB, 70 AD, and 41 healthy control participants were involved in the study.
  • The study used eLORETA to calculate lagged linear connectivity (LLC) from EEG sources at delta, theta, pre-alpha, alpha, beta, and gamma bands.
  • The DLB group showed greater fronto-occipital connectivity at the theta and pre-alpha bands compared to the AD and healthy control groups.
  • The DLB and AD groups displayed reduced alpha LLC compared to the healthy control group.

Sources:

  • Giulia Prete, D'Annunzio University Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
  • Anita D'Anselmo, Adolfo Di Crosta, Lucrezia Bristot, Claudia Carrarini, Alberto Jaramillo-Jimenez, Rocco Palumbo, Sara Varanese, Andrea Pilotto, Matteo Pardini, Dario Arnaldi, Fabrizia D'Antonio, David Ondracek, Michele Tinazzi, and Irena Rekto.
  • Journal of Alzheimers Disease (2025):13872877251385424.
  • Ios Press, Nieuwe Hemweg 6B, 1013 Bg Amsterdam, Netherlands.