Changes in Brain Oscillatory Dynamics in Elderly Adults as a Consequence of Natural Aging

We propose that natural aging may result in a less oscillatory brain state, characterized by a diminished ability to produce sustained, periodic oscillations. This diminished rhythmicity could impair cerebrospinal fluid pulsation, potentially reducing the brain's ability to efficiently clear pathogenic substances during sleep. Given the established link between impaired glymphatic clearance and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, this diminished capacity to sustain slow wave trains may contribute to age-related decline in neurological functioning.