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Transcranial direct current stimulation effects on menopausal vasomotor symptoms
Mônia Steigleder Bianchi1, Charles Francisco Ferreira, Felipe Fregni
11Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Faculdade de Medicina 2Ambulatório de Climatério, Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Faculdade de Medicina 3Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 4Núcleo de Neurociências (NEC) - Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), Instituto de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação (IMREA/HCFMUSP), Medicina Física e Reabilitação e Neurologia, Harvard Medical School, São Paulo, SP 5Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) showed minimal impact on menopausal hot flashes. Further research is needed to explore more effective tDCS protocols for reducing vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gynecology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes, significantly impact the quality of life for postmenopausal women.
- Current treatment options for these symptoms have limitations and side effects.
- Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques are being explored as potential therapeutic avenues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in alleviating vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.
- To compare the effects of active tDCS with sham tDCS on the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 30 postmenopausal women experiencing frequent vasomotor symptoms.
- Participants received either active tDCS or sham tDCS over the motor cortex for 10 consecutive days.
- Hot flash frequency and intensity were recorded for 7 days pre-intervention and 30 days post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Both active tDCS and sham tDCS groups showed a reduction in hot flash frequency in the initial 3 weeks post-intervention.
- Hot flash frequencies returned to baseline levels by the fourth week in both groups.
- A trend towards a conversion of intense hot flashes to mild ones was observed in the active tDCS group.
Conclusions:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) demonstrated limited efficacy in reducing vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.
- The observed effects were transient, with symptoms returning to baseline levels.
- Further investigation into optimized tDCS parameters or alternative neuromodulation strategies is warranted to effectively manage menopausal hot flashes.
