Marcus Meinzer1, Robert Lindenberg2, Mai Thy Phan2, Lena Ulm3, Carina Volk2, Agnes Flöel4. 1. Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Department of Neurology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: m.meinzer@uq.edu.au. 2. Department of Neurology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. 3. Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Department of Neurology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. 4. Department of Neurology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The long preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease provides opportunities for potential disease-modifying interventions in prodromal stages such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (anodal-tDCS), with its potential to enhance neuroplasticity, may allow improving cognition in MCI. METHODS: In a double-blind, cross-over, sham-controlled study, anodal-tDCS was administered to the left inferior frontal cortex during task-related and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess its impact on cognition and brain functions in MCI. RESULTS: During sham stimulation, MCI patients produced fewer correct semantic-word-retrieval responses than matched healthy controls, which was associated with hyperactivity in bilateral prefrontal regions. Anodal-tDCS significantly improved performance to the level of controls, reduced task-related prefrontal hyperactivity and resulted in "normalization" of abnormal network configuration during resting-state fMRI. DISCUSSION: Anodal-tDCS exerts beneficial effects on cognition and brain functions in MCI, thereby providing a framework to test whether repeated stimulation sessions may yield sustained reversal of cognitive deficits.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: The long preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease provides opportunities for potential disease-modifying interventions in prodromal stages such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (anodal-tDCS), with its potential to enhance neuroplasticity, may allow improving cognition in MCI. METHODS: In a double-blind, cross-over, sham-controlled study, anodal-tDCS was administered to the left inferior frontal cortex during task-related and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess its impact on cognition and brain functions in MCI. RESULTS: During sham stimulation, MCI patients produced fewer correct semantic-word-retrieval responses than matched healthy controls, which was associated with hyperactivity in bilateral prefrontal regions. Anodal-tDCS significantly improved performance to the level of controls, reduced task-related prefrontal hyperactivity and resulted in "normalization" of abnormal network configuration during resting-state fMRI. DISCUSSION: Anodal-tDCS exerts beneficial effects on cognition and brain functions in MCI, thereby providing a framework to test whether repeated stimulation sessions may yield sustained reversal of cognitive deficits.
Authors: Bruce Crosson; Benjamin M Hampstead; Lisa C Krishnamurthy; Venkatagiri Krishnamurthy; Keith M McGregor; Joe R Nocera; Simone Roberts; Amy D Rodriguez; Stella M Tran Journal: Neuropsychology Date: 2017-08-31 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Lena Ulm; Katie McMahon; David Copland; Greig I de Zubicaray; Marcus Meinzer Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2015-10-07 Impact factor: 3.169