Linking ERP P300 Components and Cognitive Reserve to Memory Types in Older Adults

Alterations in event-related potential (ERP) P300 components
have been explored as early biomarkers of cognitive impairment in
dementia, particularly in the initial stages of Alzheimer's disease and
mild cognitive impairment (MCI), where memory deficits are
prominent. Studies indicate that ERPs elicited during working
memory (WM) are affected in MCI. Moreover, cognitive reserve
defined as the brain's ability to maintain cognitive function despite
damage affects ERP P300 responses associated with verbal WM in
both younger and older populations. This study aimed to examine
whether ERP P300 components correspond to different memory
types—verbal short-term and long-term memory, as well as visuospatial working memory—irrespective of cognitive functioning and
cognitive reserve levels in older adults. Using 32-channel EEG, ERP
P300 responses were recorded from 47 participants aged 56 to 84
years during the Oddball task, while memory was evaluated through
Luria’s Memory Word Test, Corsi block-tapping test, and Backward
Corsi task. The Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire assessed
cognitive reserve based on education, work, and leisure activities,
and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment determined cognitive
functioning levels. Results indicated no significant correlations
between ERP P300 components and memory measures (p N .05).
However, there were positive correlations between total cognitive
reserve (rs = 0.452, p = .002), education (rs = 0.360, p = .015),
work activities (rs = 0.394, p = .007), and leisure activities (rs =
0.295, p = .049) with long-term memory, which persisted after
controlling for age and cognitive level. These results imply that while
ERP P300 may not directly relate to specific memory measures in
older adults, cognitive reserve could enhance long-term memory
capacity. Further research is needed to examine if ERP P300
components are linked to distinct memory subtypes under more
cognitively demanding tasks, like the 2-back task, which may better
activate working memory. This investigation is currently undergoing.