The Electroencephalogram in the Middle‐Aged and the Elderly

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Abstract
A survey was made of the EEG changes during the human lifespan. The EEG changes during childhood and adolescent maturation continued even between the ages of 30-60 yr. There was a decrease in the abundance of .alpha. activity, with a reduction in the fast part and a relative increase in the slow part of the .alpha. band. In the span of life between 60-190, there was an increase of slow waves with a progressive slowing during the aging process and a shift in the dominant frequency from 9 Hz to 7 Hz. Computerization of results in the .beta. band (above 13 Hz) enabled differentiation of the waves of the lower part (13-25 Hz) from those of the upper part (above 25-30 Hz). The lower part of the .beta. band decreased parallel to the .alpha. activity but the upper part of the .beta. band increased during the aging process. The meaning of the divergent behavior of these sub-groups of .beta. activity in the aged was discussed. The EEG seems to be an important factor in the study of aged persons.

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