Educational attainment, electroencephalographic rhythms, cortical structure, and cognitive performance over 2 years in older adults with subjective memory complaints and brain amyloidosis

Introduction: We investigated whether older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMC) and amyloid-β accumulation may show clinical progression over 2 years, as measured by resting-state electroencephalographic (rsEEG), structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and cognitive variables, depending on educational attainment. Methods: We analyzed these markers in 84 SMC participants from INSIGHT-Pre-AD study, grouped by amyloid-β deposition (18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography) and educational attainment. Results: In amyloid-negative individuals, higher educational attainment was linked to greater posterior rsEEG alpha activity, possibly reflecting neuroprotective effects. Conversely, amyloid-positive individuals with higher educational attainment showed reduced posterior rsEEG alpha rhythms and lower parietal cortical thickness, potentially indicating compensatory mechanisms counteracting early amyloidosis and neurodegeneration. No longitudinal changes were found in either group over 2 years. Discussion: Education had a stable influence on rsEEG, sMRI, and cognitive markers over 2 years in SMC individuals. Longer follow-up periods should be used to monitor brain status with those markers. Highlights: Education, subjective memory complaint (SMC), and brain amyloid-β deposition. Stable influence of education on resting-state electroencephalographic (rsEEG), structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and cognitive markers over 2 years. Compensatory mechanism of education against early amyloidosis and neurodegeneration. Longer follow-up periods to monitor brain status in SMC older adults with those markers.