Abstrakt
Age-related changes in the EEG energy and spectral composition were examined in 17,722 healthy subjects (truck drivers), 20 to 70 years old. Linear correlations between age vs global EEG energy and spectral powers (SPs) of EEG frequency ranges were estimated by linear regression analysis.
Significant dependences of the global EEG energy and SPs of all EEG rhythms on age (age-related decreases) were found (most significant for the alpha range). An age-related decline of the EEG energy may be, in part, explained by age-related generalized brain atrophy and increased thickness of the scalp.
While similarity measures show an age-related decrease of the correlation between different sources of EEG, activity phase cancellation should also be taken into account. Smaller decreases in the absolute SPs of the beta and gamma ranges together with a general drop in the overall EEG power result in a trend toward relatively higher normalized representation of these frequency components with aging.
The highest significance of decline in the alpha range can be related to a slowing oscillation frequency of alpha generators toward the theta band.