European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to compare EEG changes of AUSTISM patients with normally developing children, by comparing alpha wave frequency in different EEG electrodes.
Methods: The present study was conducted at SPMCHI, J. K. Lone Hospital attached to S. M. S. Medical College, Jaipur after obtaining the desired clearance from Institutional Research Review Board (IRRB) and Ethics Committee of the Institution. An informed written consent and assent was taken from every subject’s parent before commencing any procedure. The study population consisted of 25 Autistic Spectrum Disorder cases of below 18 years of age. An equal number of healthy control subjects were recruited as controls.
Results: The mean value of alpha wave frequency in F3 electrode was 10.77±2.94 in cases while in the control group it was 9.62±1.23. Although the p value was not significant here (0.078). Mean value of alpha wave for P3 electrode. Here for cases, mean value it was 12.42±5.73while for controls it was 11.49±1.57. Again, P value was not significant here (0.439. Comparison of alpha wave profile among cases showed that cases with severe ASD have significant difference from cases with mild &moderate autism. The mean value of alpha wave relative power in F8 electrode in mild cases was 11.28±3.29, in moderate cases was 8.01±2.21 & in severe cases was 7.52±1.92 and here the comparison among them shows that differences are significant (P=0.014). Similarly, we found statistically significant difference in F7 electrode. Although there was no difference in rest of frontal region electrodes and in any of parietal &temporal region electrode.
Conclusion: We conclude that currently EEG cannot be used as a digital biomarker for early diagnosis of ASD till further larger studies