Impact of 3-Day Combined Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation-Visuospatial Training on Object-Location Memory in Healthy Older Adults and Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Introduction: Engaging in a secondary task while walking increases motor-cognitive interference and exacerbates fall risk in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous studies have demonstrated that Tai Chi (TC) may improve cognitive function and dual-task gait performance. Intriguingly, with emerging studies also indicating the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in enhancing such motor-cognitive performance, whether combining tDCS with TC might be superior to TC alone is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combining tDCS with TC on dual-task gait in patients with MCI.Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with MCI were randomly assigned to receive either anodal or sham tDCS, both combined with TC, for 36 sessions over 12 weeks. Subjects received 40 min of TC training in each session. During the first 20 min, they simultaneously received either anodal or sham tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Outcome measures included dual-task gait performance and other cognitive functions.Results: There were significant interaction effects between groups on the cognitive dual task walking. Compared to sham, the anodal tDCS group demonstrated a greater improvement on cadence and dual task cost of speed.Conclusion: Combining tDCS with TC may offer additional benefits over TC alone in enhancing dual-task gait performance in patients with MCI.Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [TCTR20201201007].

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An object location memory paradigm for older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment

Journal of Neuroscience Methods ◽

10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.08.020 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 237 ◽

pp. 16-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Nadine Külzow ◽

Lucia Kerti ◽

Veronica A. Witte ◽

Ute Kopp ◽

Caterina Breitenstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Object Location ◽

Location Memory ◽

Object Location Memory

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The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Cognitive Functions in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Behavioural Neurology ◽

10.1155/2018/5971385 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pablo Cruz Gonzalez ◽

Kenneth N. K. Fong ◽

Ted Brown

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Cognitive Stimulation ◽

Single Subject ◽

Sham Treatment ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

Objective. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether the use of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex could boost the effects of a cognitive stimulation (CS) programme using a tablet on five older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Method.A single-subject study of A-B-C-A design was used. After the baseline with the administration of CS (phase A), a sham treatment with CS was applied (B). Following the withdrawal of sham treatment, tDCS was introduced in combination with CS (C). Finally, phase A was replicated a second time.Results.tDCS had a significant effect on processing speed, selective attention, and planning ability tasks in terms of performance and completion time.Conclusion.tDCS appears to have a positive impact on some cognitive components in CS in persons with MCI. Further study on its long-term effects and generalization of power to daily activities is warranted.

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Effects of High Definition-Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Local GABA and Glutamate Levels Among Older Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Exploratory Study

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-201091 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Ketrin Lengu ◽

Shannon Ryan ◽

Scott J. Peltier ◽

Troy Tyszkowski ◽

Anson Kairys ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Parietal Cortex ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

High Definition ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Superior Parietal Cortex

Background: Prior research, primarily with young adults, suggests transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effects are driven by the primary excitatory and/or inhibitory neurotransmitters, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. Objective: We examined the neurometabolic mechanisms of tDCS in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We used data from a double-blind, cross-over, randomized controlled trial (NCT01958437) in 32 older adults to evaluate high definition (HD)-tDCS-induced changes in glutamate and GABA via magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Participants underwent MRS following two counterbalanced HD-tDCS sessions (one active, one sham) that targeted the right superior parietal cortex (center anode at P2) and delivered 2mA for 20 minutes. Results: Relative to sham, and when co-varying for MRS voxel overlap and right superior parietal volume, active HD-tDCS significantly increased GABA and decreased the ratio of glutamate to GABA. No changes were observed in a left prefrontal control MRS voxel. Although we did not find a significant correlation between strength of delivered current (measured via MRI-based computational modeling) and neurometabolite change, there was a robust positive relationship between the volume of right superior parietal cortex and neurometabolite change. Conclusion: Our preliminary findings of increased GABA and reduced glutamate/GABA ratio raise the possibility that (HD-)tDCS effects differ by age. Moreover, age- and disease-related regional brain volume loss may be especially important to consider when planning future studies. Replication would emphasize the importance of developing population-specific tDCS parameters that consider structural and physiologic changes associated with “normal” and pathological aging.

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Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Episodic Memory in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby134 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (7) ◽

pp. 1403-1413 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Rosa Manenti ◽

Marco Sandrini ◽

Elena Gobbi ◽

Giuliano Binetti ◽

Maria Cotelli

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Learning Session ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

Abstract Objectives Episodic memory is impaired in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which is posited as a potential prodromal form of Alzheimer’s disease. Reactivated existing memories become sensitive to modification during reconsolidation. There is evidence that the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays causal role in episodic memory reconsolidation. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the PFC after a contextual reminder enhanced episodic memory performance up to 1 month, conceivably through reconsolidation, in older adults with subjective memory complaints, a condition that may represent a “pre-mild cognitive impairment” stage. The aim of this pilot study was to test the effect of PFC-tDCS (anode over left lateral PFC, cathode over right supraorbital area) after a contextual reminder on episodic memory in older adults with aMCI. Method Older adults with aMCI learned a list of words. Twenty-four hours later, tDCS (Active or Sham) was applied after a contextual reminder. Memory retrieval (free recall and recognition) was tested 48 hrs and 1 month after the learning session. Results Active tDCS enhanced recognition memory relative to Sham stimulation. Discussion Modulating reconsolidation with PFC-tDCS might be a novel intervention to enhance episodic memories in aMCI.

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