Dataset Information

Effect of online tDCS to left somatomotor cortex on neuropsychiatric symptoms among older adults at risk for dementia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cause distress to patients and caregivers, and accelerate progression to dementia. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-invasive treatment for NPS.

Objective/hypothesis

This pilot study assessed behavioral and neural effects of a 4-week anodal tDCS intervention targeting left sensorimotor cortex (LSMC: left precentral/postcentral gyri) during visual attention (compared to online sham tDCS), in 40 older adults (24 females, mean age = 71) with MCI.

Methods

A phase 0 double-blinded randomized control trial was conducted. NPS (patient-reported mood symptoms plus a caregiver-reported questionnaire) and fMRI were measured at baseline and immediately post-intervention.

Results

Generalized Estimating Equations found no significant group by time interactions for either NPS measure. However, there was evidence of decreased patient-reported NPS (Wald's χ² = 3.80, p = .051), decreased LSMC activation during visual attention (Wald's χ² = 2.93, p = .087), and increased LSMC-amygdala resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC; Wald's χ² = 3.13, p = .077) in intervention group from pre-to post-intervention. Decrease in LSMC activation (Wald's χ² = 9.20, p = .002) and increase in LSMC-amygdala rsFC (Wald's χ² = 4.72, p = .030) related to decreased patient-reported NPS. Increased positive valence across sessions was significantly associated with intervention-related NPS improvement (Wald's χ² = 22.92, p < .001). There were no findings for caregiver-reported NPS. Effects were stronger for left postcentral compared to left precentral gyrus.

Conclusion

We found tentative evidence that tDCS applied to LSMC during visual attention in older adults with MCI improved NPS via changes in LSMC activation and LSMC-amygdala rsFC, suggesting improved emotion regulation. Patient-reported NPS was more sensitive to these changes than caregiver-reports, and effects were strongest for left postcentral gyrus. Follow-up studies should perform precise mechanistic investigation and efficacy testing.

SUBMITTER: Turnbull A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9931675 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Effect of online tDCS to left somatomotor cortex on neuropsychiatric symptoms among older adults at risk for dementia.

Turnbull Adam A Anthony Mia M Tadin Duje D Porsteinsson Anton P AP Heffner Kathi K Lin Feng V FV

Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior 20221217

<h4>Background</h4>Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cause distress to patients and caregivers, and accelerate progression to dementia. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-invasive treatment for NPS.<h4>Objective/hypothesis</h4>This pilot study assessed behavioral and neural effects of a 4-week anodal tDCS intervention targeting left sensorimotor cortex (LSMC: left precentral/postcentral gyri) during visual attention (compared to onl ...[more]

PMID: 36623419

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundNeuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) have been reported to be useful in predicting incident dementia among cognitively normal older persons. However, the literature has not been conclusive on the differential utilities of the various NPS in predicting the subtypes of dementia. This study compared the risks of Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementia associated with the various NPS, among cognitively normal older persons.MethodsThis cohort study included 12,452 participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Centers across USA, who were ≥ 60 years and had normal cognition at baseline. Participants completed the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire at baseline and were followed up almost annually for incident dementia (median follow-up = 4.7 years). Symptom clusters of NPS-as identified from exploratory and confirmatory factor-analyses-were included in the Cox regression to investigate their associations with incident dementia.ResultsThe various NPS showed independent yet differential associations with incident dementia. Although psychotic symptoms were rarely endorsed by the participants, they predicted much higher risk of dementia (HR 3.6, 95% CI 2.0-6.4) than affective symptoms (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.8) or agitation symptoms (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.1). Psychotic symptoms predicted all dementia subtypes, while affective and agitation symptoms differentially predicted some subtypes. Across dementia subtypes, psychotic symptoms had relatively higher risk estimates than affective or agitation symptoms, with the risk estimates being particularly high in non-Alzheimer's dementia.ConclusionsAmong cognitively normal individuals, the presence of NPS may warrant greater clinical vigilance as precursors to dementia and its subtypes. The findings highlight the need for further research to enrich our understanding on the neurobiological links between various NPS and dementia subtypes. They may also change the clinical approach in managing late-life psychotic symptoms, requiring a greater emphasis on dementia surveillance in the diagnostic criteria of late-life psychotic disorders.

Dataset Information

Effect of online tDCS to left somatomotor cortex on neuropsychiatric symptoms among older adults at risk for dementia.

Background

Objective/hypothesis

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Effect of online tDCS to left somatomotor cortex on neuropsychiatric symptoms among older adults at risk for dementia.

Similar Datasets

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