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Quantitative electroencephalogram utility in predicting conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia with Lewy bodies
Bonanni L, Perfetti B, Bifolchetti S, Taylor JP, Franciotti R, Parnetti L, Thomas A, Onofrj M.. Neurobiology of aging, 2014-07-15
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as a precursor of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the focus of recent research, trying to explore the early mechanisms and possible biomarkers of DLB. Quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) methods are able to differentiate early DLB from Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to assess whether QEEG abnormalities, characterized by dominant frequency 1.5 Hz, typical of early DLB, are already present at the stage of MCI and to evaluate whether EEG abnormalities can predict the development of DLB. Forty-seven MCI subjects were followed for 3 years. EEG recordings were obtained at admission and at the end of the study. At the end of follow-up, 20 subjects had developed probable DLB (MCI-DLB), 14 had probable AD (MCI-AD), 8 did not convert to dementia, 5 developed a non-AD/DLB dementia. One hundred percent of MCI-DLB showed EEG abnormalities at admission. Ninety three percent of MCI-AD maintained a normal EEG throughout the study. QEEG may represent a powerful tool to predict the progression from MCI to DLB with a sensitivity and specificity close to 100%.
Key findings
- EEG recordings were obtained at admission and at the end of the study.
- At the end of follow-up, 20 subjects had developed probable DLB (MCI-DLB), 14 had probable AD (MCI-AD), 8 did not convert to dementia, 5 developed a non-AD/DLB dementia.
- One hundred percent of MCI-DLB showed EEG abnormalities at admission.
- Ninety three percent of MCI-AD maintained a normal EEG throughout the study.
- QEEG may represent a powerful tool to predict the progression from MCI to DLB with a sensitivity and specificity close to 100%.
Why it matters
In 47 people with mild cognitive impairment followed for three years, all who developed dementia with Lewy bodies showed EEG abnormalities at the start, while most who developed Alzheimer's disease had normal EEGs. This suggests EEG may help predict which type of dementia a person will develop, but it does not address treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Participants20
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2015 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 20 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 131 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.1 citations a year over 13 year(s) since 2015 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author MARCO C. ONOFRJ: h-index 70 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Newcastle University: institution h-index 932 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25129239) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.009
- PubMed: 25129239
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurobiology of Aging →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Bonanni, L., Perfetti, B., Bifolchetti, S., Taylor, J. P., Franciotti, R., Parnetti, L., et al. (2015). Quantitative electroencephalogram utility in predicting conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia with Lewy bodies. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.009
Vancouver
Bonanni L, Perfetti B, Bifolchetti S, Taylor JP, Franciotti R, Parnetti L, et al. Quantitative electroencephalogram utility in predicting conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia with Lewy bodies. Neurobiology of aging. 2015. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.009. PMID: 25129239.
BibTeX
@article{bonanni2015-25129239,
author = {Bonanni, L. and Perfetti, B. and Bifolchetti, S. and Taylor, J. P. and Franciotti, R. and Parnetti, L. and Thomas, A. and Onofrj, M.},
title = {{Quantitative electroencephalogram utility in predicting conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia with Lewy bodies}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.009},
pmid = {25129239},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.009}
}
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