USING EEG TO PREDICT DEMENTIA RISK AND COGNITIVE RESILIENCE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS UNDERGOING SURGERY

Elective surgeries are common among older adults, yet they are frequently followed by cognitive decline and reduced quality of life. Disruptions in attention networks, particularly the alerting network, have been linked to post-operative delirium and memory deficits. This study examined whether task-related EEG markers, specifically alpha modulation during the Attention Network Task (ANT), predict post-operative cognitive outcomes, and whether these effects are associated with inflammatory profiles.
Pre-surgical EEG was recorded while participants performed the ANT, which assesses alerting, orienting, and executive control networks. Analyses focused on alpha modulation within the alerting network. Peripheral inflammatory markers were assessed and analysed alongside EEG and clinical data to identify predictors of cognitive resilience or decline.
Stronger alpha modulation in the alerting network was associated with better post-operative cognitive resilience, whereas reduced or disrupted modulation was associated with higher risk of cognitive decline, including delirium and memory impairment. Elevated inflammatory markers were associated with disrupted alpha modulation, suggesting an interaction between inflammation and attention network function in shaping cognitive vulnerability after surgery.
These findings indicate that alpha modulation within the alerting network is a meaningful neurophysiological marker of post-operative cognitive outcomes in older adults. Integrating EEG-based measures with inflammatory profiling may improve identification of patients at risk for cognitive decline and support the development of targeted interventions to enhance cognitive recovery following surg