Transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive training in the rehabilitation of Alzheimer disease: A case study

In the present study we tested the cognitive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a case of probable Alzheimer disease (AD). The patient (male, 60 years, mild AD) underwent two cycles of treatments, separated by 2 months. In the first cycle, active stimulation (10 sessions, 2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychological rehabilitation 2015-11, Vol.25 (6), p.799-817
Main Authors: Penolazzi, Barbara, Bergamaschi, Susanna, Pastore, Massimiliano, Villani, Daniele, Sartori, Giuseppe, Mondini, Sara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alzheimer disease
Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology
Alzheimer Disease - psychology
Alzheimer Disease - rehabilitation
Brain stimulation
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive rehabilitation
Dementia
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuroplasticity
Neuropsychological Tests
Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology
Rehabilitation
Single-Blind Method
tDCS
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:In the present study we tested the cognitive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a case of probable Alzheimer disease (AD). The patient (male, 60 years, mild AD) underwent two cycles of treatments, separated by 2 months. In the first cycle, active stimulation (10 sessions, 2 mA for 20 min; anode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) was followed by computerised tasks (CTs) specifically chosen to engage the most impaired cognitive processes in the patient (tDCS+CT condition). In the second cycle, which was structured as the first, CTs were administered after placebo stimulation (sham+CT condition). Effects on cognitive performance were evaluated not only by the CTs, but also by neuropsychological tests assessing global cognitive functioning. Statistical analyses revealed that whereas the tDCS+CT condition had few effects on the CTs, it induced a stability of the patient's global cognitive functioning lasting approximately 3 months, which was not achieved when the patient underwent sham+CT condition. Therefore, the synergetic use of tDCS and CTs appeared to slow down the cognitive decline of our patient. This preliminary result, although in need of further confirmation, suggests the potentiality of tDCS as an adjuvant tool for cognitive rehabilitation in AD.
ISSN:0960-2011
1464-0694
DOI:10.1080/09602011.2014.977301