Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in elderly with mild cognitive impairment: A pilot study

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, painless and easy-to use-technology. It can be used in depression, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders. There are no studies about longer usage protocols regarding the ideal duration and weekly frequency of tDCS. Objective: to study the use of tDCS twice a week for longer periods to improve memory in elderly with MCI. Methods: a randomized double-blind controlled trial of anodal tDCS on cognition of 58 elderly aged over 60 years was conducted. A current of 2.0 mA was applied for 30 minutes for 10 sessions, twice a week. The anode was placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLFC). Subjects were evaluated before and after 10 sessions by the following tests: CAMCOG, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Trail Making, Semantic Verbal Fluency (Animals), Boston naming, Clock Drawing Test, Word list memory (WLMT), Direct and Indirect Digit Order (WAIS-III and WMS-III) and N-back. Results: After 10 sessions of tDCS, significant group-time interactions were found for the CAMCOG - executive functioning (χ2 = 3.961, p = 0.047), CAMCOG - verbal fluency (χ2 = 3.869, p = 0.049), CAMCOG - Memory recall (χ2 = 9.749, p = 0.004), and WMLT - recall (χ2 = 7.254, p = 0.007). A decline in performance on the CAMCOG - constructional praxis (χ2 = 4.371, p = 0.037) was found in the tDCS group after intervention. No significant differences were observed between the tDCS and Sham groups for any other tasks. Conclusion: tDCS at 2 mA for 30 min twice a week over 5 consecutive weeks proved superior to placebo (Sham) for improving memory recall, verbal fluency and executive functioning in elderly with MCI.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment via Modulating Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Autophagy in a Rat Model of Vascular Dementia

“…Anodal tDCS has promising potential therapeutic effects for symptoms associated with dementia (Elder and Taylor, 2014). Anodal tDCS exerts positive effects on cognition and brain functions in mild cognitive impairment and major dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, Pakinson's disease, however, available studies on VD were limited (Meinzer et al, 2015;Adenzato et al, 2019;Gomes et al, 2019).…”

Combining Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Tai Chi to Improve Dual-Task Gait Performance in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Among these, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) provides non-invasive neuromodulation by delivering a low electrical current intensity (0.5–2.0 mA) through the scalp ( Shin et al, 2015 ). An increasing number of studies support the efficacy of applying anodal tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in enhancing cognitive performance (e.g., processing speed, working memory, and executive function) in patients with MCI ( Meinzer et al, 2015 ; Gomes et al, 2019 ). More specifically, dual-task gait performance (e.g., stride time and variability) can be improved immediately after a single or 10 sessions of tDCS in elderly individuals ( Manor et al, 2016 , 2018 ).…”

Repeated anodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in mild cognitive impairment patients increased regional homogeneity in multiple brain regions

“…The post-stimulation effect of tDCS lasts for minutes to hours, the effect of repeated stimulation may last from days to months. It has been proposed that repeated stimulation induces neuroplasticity by promoting the remodeling of brain circuits and subsequently improving brain functions including learning and memory [8]. The combination of tDCS and training with specific goals enhances the excitability of task-related brain networks and reconstructs specific neural circuitry [9].…”