Transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating depression in elderly patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

• Depression is a significant health concern in the elderly population.
• Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in older adults presents unique challenges.
• Exploring novel therapeutic interventions for geriatric depression is crucial.

Observation:

• Sixty-five elderly patients with depression received high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left prefrontal cortex.
• Treatment involved daily sessions for three weeks, totaling approximately 1000 magnetic pulses per patient.
• The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to assess depression severity before and after treatment.

Findings:

• Mean HAMD scores significantly decreased from 21.94 to 11.28 (P < 0.001) after rTMS.
• 58.46% of patients showed significant mood improvement (≥50% HAMD reduction), with 19 achieving remission (HAMD < 8).
• No patients experienced worsening of depression; treatment was well-tolerated with no serious adverse effects.

Implications:

• High-frequency rTMS is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for elderly patients with treatment-resistant depression.
• This therapy demonstrates antidepressant effects in individuals over 60.
• rTMS offers a promising non-pharmacological option for improving mental health in geriatric populations.