Transcranial direct current stimulation ameliorates tactile sensory deficit in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Tactile sensation deficits are common in multiple sclerosis (MS), impacting daily activities.
• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has previously enhanced tactile discrimination in healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of tDCS in improving tactile sensory deficits in MS patients.
• To assess the impact of tDCS on tactile discrimination and subjective sensory perception.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study involving 5 days of anodal tDCS on the somatosensory cortex.
• Tactile spatial discrimination was measured using the grating orientation task (GOT).
• Secondary outcomes included visual analog scale (VAS) for sensation, quality of life, and disability, assessed at baseline and follow-up.

Main Results:

• Anodal tDCS significantly improved tactile discrimination thresholds on the GOT.
• Subjective tactile sensation scores (VAS) also increased following anodal tDCS.
• No significant changes were observed in quality of life or overall disability.

Conclusions:

• A five-day course of anodal tDCS effectively ameliorates tactile sensory loss in MS patients.
• The beneficial effects on tactile sensation are long-lasting.
• tDCS presents a promising therapeutic option for managing tactile sensory deficits in MS.