Evaluation of Parkinson’s disease early diagnosis using single-channel EEG features and auditory cognitive assessment

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) often presents with subtle early signs, making diagnosis difficult. F-DOPA PET imaging provides a reliable measure of dopaminergic function and is a primary tool for early PD diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the ability of machine-learning (ML) extracted EEG features to predict F-DOPA results and distinguish between PD and non-PD patients. These features, extracted using a single-channel EEG during an auditory cognitive assessment, include EEG feature A0 associated with cognitive load in healthy subjects, and EEG feature L1 associated with cognitive task differentiation.MethodsParticipants in this study are comprised of cognitively healthy patients who had undergone an F-DOPA PET scan as a part of their standard care (n = 32), and cognitively healthy controls (n = 20). EEG data collected using the Neurosteer system during an auditory cognitive task, was decomposed using wavelet-packet analysis and machine learning methods for feature extraction. These features were used in a connectivity analysis that was applied in a similar manner to fMRI connectivity. A preliminary model that relies on the features and their connectivity was used to predict initially unrevealed F-DOPA test results. Then, generalized linear mixed models (LMM) were used to discern between PD and non-PD subjects based on EEG variables.ResultsThe prediction model correctly classified patients with unrevealed scores as positive F-DOPA. EEG feature A0 and the Delta band revealed distinct activity patterns separating between study groups, with controls displaying higher activity than PD patients. In controls, EEG feature L1 showed variations between resting state and high-cognitive load, an effect lacking in PD patients.ConclusionOur findings exhibit the potential of single-channel EEG technology in combination with an auditory cognitive assessment to distinguish positive from negative F-DOPA PET scores. This approach shows promise for early PD diagnosis. Additional studies are needed to further verify the utility of this tool as a potential biomarker for PD

Recovery from trauma induced amnesia correlates with normalization of thrombin activity in the mouse hippocampus.

Transient amnesia is a common consequence of minimal traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, while recent findings have addressed the mechanisms involved in its onset, the processes contributing to its recovery have not yet been addressed. Recently, we have found that thrombin is detected at high concentrations in the brain of mice after exposure to mTBI and that in such settings amnesia is rescued by either inhibiting thrombin activity or by blockade of PAR1. Here, we report that mice spontaneously recover from amnesia after two weeks from mTBI exposure. At this time point, long term potentiation was equally evoked in injured vs. control animals with thrombin concentration in the brain being normalized at this stage. These findings, which refer to the specific aspect of memory retrieval upon mTBI, together with our previous work, hint to a strong correlation between cognitive defects in the context of mTBI and thrombin concentrations in the brain. This may suggest that a possible scavenging of thrombin in the brain at early phases following mTBI may improve memory function

At two weeks upon injury, brain RNA levels of prothrombin, PAR1 and factor X were comparable between mTBI exposed animals and controls.

<p>At two weeks upon injury, brain RNA levels of prothrombin, PAR1 and factor X were comparable between mTBI exposed animals and controls.</p

Long Term Potentiation (LTP) is equally evoked in mTBI and control animals at two weeks following injury.

<p>(a) While twenty fours upon mTBI, animals exhibited a lower LTP compared to controls., (b) no difference in LTP could be detected in mTBI exposed animals vs. control at two weeks upon injury. Sample illustrations are at the indicated time points, the arrow indicates the time of high frequency stimulation delivery.</p

At two weeks upon injury, brain thrombin activity and concentration are similar between mTBI exposed animals and controls.

<p>(a) Thrombin activity as well as its protein levels (b) assessed as described in the methods section were comparable between mTBI and control brain slices. (c) PAR1 and (d) factor X were slightly elevated in mTBI animals compared to control. Refer to text for statistics.</p