Dual-targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates brain functional network connectivity to improve cognition in mild cognitive impairment patients

Abstract

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition between normal aging and dementia; nearly 10–15% of MCI patients develop dementia annually. There are no effective interventions for MCI progression. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has attempted to improve the overall cognitive function of MCI patients. However, it does not affect episodic memory improvement.Methods: In this study, we engaged 15 clinically diagnosed MCI patients and normal controls to explore the effect of dual-targeted rTMS on progressing cognitive function, particularly episodic memory in MCI patients. Resting-state EEG recordings and neuropsychological assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. EEG features were extracted using an adaptive algorithm to calculate functional connectivity alterations in relevant brain regions and the mechanisms of altered brain functional networks in response to dual-target rTMS.Results: The study revealed that the functional brain connectivity between the right posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC) and the right dorsal caudate nucleus (DC) was significantly reduced in MCI patients compared to normal controls (p < 0.001). Dual-target rTMS increased the strength of the reduced functional connectivity (p < 0.001), which was related to cognitive enhancement (p < 0.05).Conclusion: This study provides a new stimulation protocol for rTMS intervention. Improving the functional connectivity of the right PCC to the right DC is a possible mechanism by which rTMS improves overall cognitive and memory function in MCI patients.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Effects on Cognitive Functions—A Systematic Review

“…Treatment by rTMS induced increased regional connectivity on the left DLPFC (i.e., the targeted area), also increasing the average distributed FC of the frontoparietal network [69]. It is worth highlighting that high-frequency rTMS has been shown to improve cognitive function, such as verbal fluency and memory [69,79,80]. High-frequency rTMS was applied to multiple coincident cortical sites associated with cognitive training, which may increase the probability of cortical plasticity [80,81].…”

“…It is worth highlighting that high-frequency rTMS has been shown to improve cognitive function, such as verbal fluency and memory [69,79,80]. High-frequency rTMS was applied to multiple coincident cortical sites associated with cognitive training, which may increase the probability of cortical plasticity [80,81]. Furthermore, high-frequency rTMS of the bilateral DLPFC has been shown to significantly enhance cognitive function, such as, respectively, executive performance and visuospatial function [82,83].…”

Personalised functional imaging-guided multitarget continuous theta burst stimulation for post-stroke aphasia: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…While single-target rTMS has been the focus of existing PSA studies, the potential of multitarget neuromodulation therapy remains relatively unexplored in the PSA, despite its success in addressing other neurological disorders. [24][25][26] Hence, we propose a multitarget neuromodulation therapy that combines IFG, STG and SFG stimulation to potentially achieve a comprehensive therapeutic effect and enhance language function recovery in PSA patients.…”