High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Alzheimer’s Dementia

Overview

This study explored a new, non-invasive technique to help with cognitive issues in Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). It aimed to see if this method could improve brain function in patients.

Study Details

The research was conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center and involved 25 participants diagnosed with AD. They received high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) for 20 minutes across ten sessions. The sessions included different levels of stimulation: sham, 1 mA, and 2 mA.

Measurements

Cognitive abilities were assessed at the start, right after the last session, and 8 weeks later. The main focus was on learning and memory, specifically using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Other areas, like language skills and processing speed, were also evaluated.

Results

While no significant differences were found between sham and active treatments immediately after sessions, moderate-to-large effect sizes were noted for both learning and fluency improvement in active HD-tDCS groups compared to sham. Improvements were seen in about 25% to 33% of participants, with effects lasting up to 8 weeks in the 1 mA group.

Conclusions

HD-tDCS may offer significant cognitive improvements for some Alzheimer’s patients, and these benefits could last for at least 8 weeks.

Trial Registration

The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05270408) since December 30, 2021.

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