PURPOSE: Electrophysiological event-related potentials (ERP’s) have been reported to change after concussion. The objective of this study is to use a simple 2-tone auditory P300 ERP in routine clinical settings to measure changes from baseline after

PURPOSE: Numerous studies have reported electrophysiological differences between concussed and non-concussed groups, but few studies have systematically explored recovery trajectories from acute concussion to symptom recovery and the transition from acute concussion to prolonged phases. Questions remain about recovery prognosis and the extent to which symptom resolution coincides with injury resolution. This study therefore investigated the electrophysiological differences in recoveries between simple and complex concussion. METHODS: Student athletes with acute concussion from a previous study (19(2) years old) were tracked from pre-injury baseline, 24–48 hours after concussion, and through in-season recovery. The electroencephalography (EEG) with P300 evoked response trajectories from this acute study were compared to an age-matched population of 71 patients (18(2) years old) with prolonged post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), 61 (SD 31) days after concussion. RESULTS: Acute, return-to-play, and PPCS groups all experienced a significant deficit in P300 amplitude compared to the pre-injury baseline group. The PPCS group, however, had significantly different EEG spectral and coherence patterns from every other group. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that while the evoked response potentials deficits of simple concussion may persist in more prolonged stages, there are certain EEG measures unique to PPCS. These metrics are readily accessible to clinicians and may provide useful parameters to help predict trajectories, characterize injury (phenotype), and track the course of injury.

Background: Cardiovascular disease and dementia represent two health problems that may be causally connected. Studies have shown patients with dementia to have reduced cardiovascular health measures, where patients with dementia also have reduced electrophysiological brain activity as measured by event-related potentials (ERP’s). Few studies have attempted to correlate the two: cardiovascular health and ERP brain activity. The objective of this study is to determine if there are ERP differences between patients with lower versus higher measures of cardiovascular risk. Methods: For 180 patients ages 53 (16) years, Audio P300 ERP amplitudes and latencies (speeds) were measured upon initial patient visit alongside other clinical evaluations. Cardiovascular risk was categorized into good versus poor levels for blood pressure resting and stressed, E/A Ratio, atherosclerosis, and carotid intima-media thickness. Results: Groups with good levels had lower latencies (faster P300′s) and higher amplitudes than those with poor levels across all cardiovascular risk measures, significant to p < 0.05 for most parameters. While both cardiovascular health and P300 metrics decline with age, poor blood pressure and plaque was seen to affect P300 performance across all age groups in this study. Conclusion: These data suggest correlation between brain activity, as measured by the P300, and five standard measures of cardiovascular health and this correlation may begin at an early age. While further explorations are warranted, these results could have implications on the management of preventative medicine by bringing preventative cardiology and brain health together.

Evoked potential metrics extracted from an EEG exam can provide novel sources of information regarding brain function. While the P300 occurring around 300 ms post-stimulus has been extensively investigated in relation to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with decreased amplitude and increased latency, the P200 response has not, particularly in an oddball-stimulus paradigm. This study compares the auditory P200 amplitudes between MCI (28 patients aged 74(8)) and non-MCI, (35 aged 72(4)). Data were collected in routine clinical evaluations where EEG with audio oddball ERPs were measured as part of a health screening exam from 2 clinics serving MCI patients and one clinic serving a non-MCI population as part of a wellness/preventative care program. We also investigated the disease course for 3 patients as case studies. The results revealed the P200 amplitudes to be significantly increased in the MCI compared to the non-MCI groups, alongside the expected reduction in P300, Trail Making, and reaction time. Moreover, the ratio of P200-to-P300 was also increased in the MCI groups even in cases where the P300 was strong. This trend continued for patients who were tracked from early-to-later stages in the case studies. While the pathophysiology of the P200 response in a 2-tone auditory oddball protocol is not well understood, this measure may help indicate signs of early MCI, particularly in cases where the P300 is still strong.

Ketamine treatment presents a novel approach for addressing refractory conditions, such as major depressive disorder, suicidal ideation, and posttraumatic stress disorder, which often co-occur and pose significant challenges for clinicians. This study explores the clinical and electrophysiological outcomes of ketamine treatment in two cases, shedding light on its potential efficacy and mechanisms of action. The first case involves a 56-year-old Caucasian male with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation, and the second case involves a 52-year-old Caucasian female with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Both patients opted for ketamine treatment after years of unsuccessful interventions. The male patient received nine ketamine infusions over 18 months, while the female patient received five infusions over one month. Symptom improvement was accompanied by distinct electrophysiological changes, as observed through electroencephalogram and evoked electroencephalogram responses. These changes persisted for several months post-treatment, offering hope for individuals grappling with challenging chronic conditions. Ketamine infusions resulted in significant and sustained symptomatic improvement in both cases, accompanied by distinct electrophysiological changes indicative of altered brain function. These findings highlight the potential of ketamine as an alternative treatment for refractory conditions, such as major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, offering relief and functional recovery for certain patients. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize treatment protocols.

This case series highlights the potential of combining dietary, exercise, and hormonal interventions to improve metabolic health markers (HbA1C, insulin, body fat) and enhance cognitive function (P300 amplitude, IAF). EEG‐based brain monitoring offers a valuable tool for tracking cognitive risk and guiding preventative strategies in aging populations.