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Aging, Smoking and Hemispheric EEG Asymmetry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Verner J. Knott  and
Anne Harr
Verner J. Knott
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa/Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research
Anne Harr
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa/Royal Ottawa Hospital and Institute of Mental Health Research
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Abstract

As previous research has shown central nicotinic receptors to (a) be asymmetrical, (b) decline with age, and (c) be more abundant in smokers, quantified EEG indices of hemispheric asymmetry were employed to assess whether smoker/non-smoker status affected the aging brain and whether the aging brain demonstrated an altered response to acute smoking/nicotine. Forty healthy volunteers participated, including 20 young (18–39 years) and 20 elderly (64–81 years) adults. Half of the subjects in each age category were lifelong non-smokers and half were cigarette smokers with average smoking histories of 9.3 and 52.0 years for young and elderly respectively. Inter-hemispheric theta and alpha asymmetry indices illustrated greater left hemisphere power (relative to right) in elderly adults, while the reverse trend was seen in young adults. Smokers and non-smokers both showed similar aging trends but differed with respect to their presence in frontal and posterior regions. Intra-hemispheric asymmetry indices, particularly with alpha activity, illustrated a reduced anterior-posterior gradient of power distribution in the elderly. Acute smoking increased slow (delta) and fast (beta) inter-hemispheric indices but only in elderly smokers. Smoking also altered the intra-hemispheric balance of slow wave activity in both age groups of smokers. The results are discussed in relation to normal and pathological aging.

Résumé

Vu que la recherche préalable démontre les récepteurs nicotiniques étant (a) asymétriques, (b) moins abondants avec âge et (c) plus abondants en fumeurs, des indices d'EEG quantifiés ont été utilisé pour évaluer si ou non être fumeur/nonfumeur affecte le cerveau veillissant et si ou non celui-ci démontre une reaction modifiée par la présence vive du nicotine. Quarante volontaires en bonne santé ont participé, ci-inclus 20 jeunes adultes (âgé de 18–39 ans) et 20 personnes âgées (âgé de 64–81 ans). La moitié des sujets dans chaque groupe d'âge se trouvaient nonfumeurs à vie tandis que l'autre moitié étaient fumeurs avec 9,3 et 52 années de tabagisme par groupe d'âge respectivement. Les indices d'asymétrie inter-hémisphérique theta et alpha ont demontré plus de puissance (μV2) dans l'hémisphere gauche (comparé à la droite) en sujets âgés tandis qu'une tendance inverse fût notée en sujets jeunes. Fumeurs et nonfumeurs ont démontré des tendances semblables en vieillissement mais différents au niveau du site d'enregistrement. Les indices d'asymétrie intra-hémisphérique ont démontré un gradient de distribution de puissance réduite dans les sujets âgés. Une seule cigarette préférée, fumée après abstention pendant plusieurs heures, a affecté les indices interhémisphériques delta en fumeurs âgés et les indices intrahémisphériques beta en fumeurs jeunes et âgés. Les résultats sont discutés, relatifs au vieillissement normal et pathologique.

Keywords

AgingSmokingNicotineEEGAsymmetryVieillissementtabagismenicotineEEGasymétrie
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , Hiver/Winter 1997 , pp. 647 - 664
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1997

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