Neuropsychological and Neurophysiological Approaches to Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

This dissertation aims to advance the understanding of cognitive aging, particularly in mildcognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), through the examination of complementary neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and analytical approaches. Chapter 2 presents a study applying data-driven methods to neuropsychological data from community-dwelling older adults, identifying cognitive subgroups differing in memory, language, attention, and executive function. Chapter 3 systematically reviews concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) in MCI/AD, synthesizing evidence on cortical excitability, oscillatory dynamics, and connectivity, while evaluating methodological considerations that shape interpretation and clinical utility. Chapter 4 presents two methods of source-reconstruction of TMS-EEG in older adults, assessing the relative sensitivity and spatial specificity for mapping responses to intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) with surface EEG. Chapter 5 considers these findings in relation to one another, drawing a through-line from observable cognitive behavior to the underlying neural networks involved in MCI and AD. Collectively, this work emphasizes the increasing convergence between these approaches, leading towards earlier, more precise, and individualized strategies for those on the AD spectrum.