The Role of Electroencephalography in the Differential Diagnosis of Dementia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10578252

Keywords:

Electroencephalography, EEG, dementia, Alzheimer’s, lewy bodies, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Abstract

Dementia is a well-known condition that affects nearly 5.8 million people in the United States [1]. While people are most familiar with Alzheimer’s dementia, other lesser-known forms of dementia, including Lewy body dementia, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, and vascular dementia, account for 20-40% of dementia in today’s population. More than 55 illnesses can cause dementia. Dementia is characterized by acquired loss of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional abilities to the extent that it impacts daily life [2]. Common dementia symptoms include memory loss, deficits in mental acuity, language impairments, impaired judgment, unstable mood, and motor deficits [3]. 

An electroencephalogram (EEG) records the summed electrical activity of pyramidal cells using electrodes placed on the scalp and graphed over time. It represents the amalgamation of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials by measuring the difference in electrical potential between two scalp sites. EEGs play an important role in research and medicine. They are useful in monitoring brain activity for various functions, such as memory or sleep, and diagnosing numerous neurological disorders [10]. An EEG of a normal, alert individual typically has low-amplitude, high-frequency activity in alpha waves [9].

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Published: Dec 06, 2023. https://globalinnervation.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-role-of-eeg-in-differential.html.

Gangardiwala, Zainab A, and Faisal R Jahangiri. 2023. “The Role of EEG in the Differential Diagnosis of Dementia.” Https://Www.globalinnervation.com/. Global Innervation LLC. December 6, 2023. https://globalinnervation.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-role-of-eeg-in-differential.html.

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Published

2024-01-08

How to Cite

Gangardiwala, Z. A. (2024). The Role of Electroencephalography in the Differential Diagnosis of Dementia. J of Neurophysiological Monitoring, 2(1), 58–62. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10578252