Aperiodic component of EEG power spectrum and cognitive performance in aging: the role of education

Abstract

Aging is associated with changes in the oscillatory -periodic-brain activity in the alpha band (8-12 Hz), as measured with resting-state EEG (rsEEG); it is characterized by a significantly lower alpha frequency and power. Aging influences the aperiodic component of the power spectrum: at a higher age the slope flattens, which is related with lower cognitive efficiency. It is not known whether education, a cognitive reserve proxy recognized for its modulatory role on cognition, influences such relationship. N=179 healthy participants of the LEMON dataset (Babayan et al., 2019) were grouped based on age and education: young adults with high education and older adults with high and low education. Eyes-closed rsEEG power spectrum was parametrized at the occipital level. Lower IAPF, exponent, and offset in older adults were shown, compared to younger adults. Visual attention and working memory were differently predicted by the aperiodic component across education: in older adults with high education, higher exponent predicted slower processing speed and less working memory capacity, with an opposite trend in those with lower education. Further investigation is needed; the study shows the potential modulatory role of education in the relationship between the aperiodic component of the EEG power spectrum and aging cognition.