EEG as a Diagnostic Tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment: Andrew Budson, MD

WATCH TIME: 7 minutes

"The reason that we think that EEG is the way to go [for diagnosis] is that we're actually measuring brain physiology directly. I think from first principles, we're going to be doing better at being able to diagnose a brain disorder if we're looking directly at how brain cells are functioning.”

Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are more at risk of developing Alzheimer disease or related dementias. Many current standard cognitive assessments to diagnosis MCI with evaluating brain function are often of subject to bias and healthcare provider interpretation. Therefore, researchers are investigating ways that will enable them to predict which patients will progress to a cognitive disorder and which other ones will remain stable in a more objective way.

Andrew Budson, MD, professor of neurology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, an attendee at the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, April 22-27, in Boston, Massachusetts, presented cutting-edge research in development for both diagnostic techniques and treatments for MCI. Specifically, with using electroencephalography (EEG), which helps to assess patients and see if they are at risk for cognitive decline.

Budson, sat down with NeurologyLive® in an interview at AAN 2023 to provide an overview of what is known in the clinical practice and research in patients with MCI. He also shared his further insights on the other challenges in brain health and memory, as well as provided examples of how his research is working to improve MCI in patients in regard to the management of their condition.

Click here for more coverage from AAN 2023.