P300 Event-Related Potentials Show Stronger Age-Related Associations than Global MoCA Scores in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Introduction: Detecting early, subtle cognitive changes in older adults remains challenging when global screening scores remain within or near normal limits. The P300 event-related potential (ERP) may provide an objective neurophysiological index of age-related changes in attention and information processing. We compared age-related associations of P300 parameters and global Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 34 community-dwelling adults aged 65–80 years (mean age 72.2 ± 4.6 years; 19 men), without known neurological or psychiatric disorders. Participants underwent auditory oddball ERP recording and MoCA testing. P300 latency and amplitude were measured at Fz and Cz. Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlations, as appropriate, were used to examine associations with age and global MoCA score.

Results: Age was positively associated with P300 latency at Fz (r=0.382, p=0.026) and Cz (r=0.362, p=0.035). Age was inversely associated with P300 amplitude at Fz (ρ=−0.430, p=0.011) and Cz (r=−0.408, p=0.017). In contrast, global MoCA score (mean 25.29 ± 2.55) was not significantly associated with age (r=−0.095, p=0.591). Longer P300 latencies showed borderline inverse associations with MoCA score at Fz (r=−0.329, p=0.058) and Cz (r=−0.328, p=0.059), whereas P300 amplitudes were not significantly associated with MoCA.

Conclusions: In this sample, P300 latency and amplitude demonstrated clearer age-related associations than global MoCA performance. P300 ERPs may complement brief cognitive screening by identifying neurophysiological variation in cognitive processing among older adults that is not fully captured by total MoCA score. Larger longitudinal studies integrating domain-specific neuropsychological measures are needed to establish their clinical and prognostic utility.