Overview of current diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic use of EEG and EEG-based markers of cognition, mental, and brain health

Abstract

The global burden of cognitive, mental, neurological, and substance-use disorders at 258 million disability adjusted life years calls for immediate "action" in their prevention and management. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is one of the most widely-used instruments for the non-invasive neuro-physiological measure of brain function and health. The EEG was originally used to solely monitor and record electric waves generated by electrical activity in the brain to aid in clinical decision-making and diagnosis. Technological improvements have made it possible for state-of the-art EEG computer-based systems like NeuralScan by Medeia Inc. to evaluate changes in power and in ratios of these brain waves with changes in brain and mental health status. Today's EEG machines can also identifying the precise localization of these changes enabling more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Improvements in EEG technology have made them robust, stationary/portable, high fidelity, versatile with the ability to carry out complex functions and calculations yet still be user/clinician-friendly highlighting their potential for use in clinical, research, epidemiological and public health settings. The present article presents an overview on EEG machines, their use in diagnosis, prognosis and therapy and to generate EEG-based markers in the area of cognition, mental and brain health.