Christian W
Nervenarzt. 1984 Oct;55(10):517-24.
Aging, by definition, constitutes a biological process rather than a disease. The resulting functional deficiency in transmitter-metabolism is the basis of deviations in the electroencephalographic patterns. In general, the EEG exhibits greater variability in the old age than in the middle decades. The most important characteristic of the EEG in the aged is a slowing of the alpha-frequency often in association with discontinuity, voltage reduction, and successive disruption of alpha rhythm with passages of curve-flattening and slowing of the dominating rhythms. Such patterns of subvigilant activity can dominate the EEG in the aged under resting conditions. Another common feature of the EEG in older age is an increasing occurrence of theta-waves, especially in the temporal regions. Temporarily, beta-waves increase in frequency in old age--predominantly in the female--usually subsiding by the age of 75. The interpretation of an EEG focus can be difficult in the absence of clinical correlates. In the very old age, the resulting changes in sleep-pattern can be demonstrated in the EEG. EEG and psychic efficiency are related only occasionally; under pathologic conditions, however, the relationship between EEG-anomalies and the intensity of a psychoorganic syndrome demonstrates a closer correlation. Finally, the possibility of gaining new information about psychical activities during aging through the use of evoked potentials is discussed.
衰老，从定义上讲，是一个生物学过程而非一种疾病。由此导致的递质代谢功能缺陷是脑电图模式偏差的基础。一般来说，老年人脑电图的变异性比中年时期更大。老年人脑电图最重要的特征是α频率减慢，通常伴有α节律的间断、电压降低以及随着曲线变平、主导节律减慢而出现的α节律连续中断。这种亚警觉活动模式在静息状态下可在老年人脑电图中占主导。老年人脑电图的另一个常见特征是θ波出现频率增加，尤其是在颞叶区域。在老年时，β波频率暂时增加——主要见于女性——通常到75岁时消退。在缺乏临床相关表现的情况下，脑电图病灶的解读可能会很困难。在高龄时，睡眠模式的变化可在脑电图中显示出来。脑电图与心理效率只是偶尔相关；然而，在病理情况下，脑电图异常与精神器质性综合征强度之间的关系显示出更密切的相关性。最后，讨论了通过使用诱发电位获取有关衰老过程中心理活动新信息的可能性。
