Adjuvant transcranial direct current stimulation for treating Alzheimer's disease: A case study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant challenge to cognitive function and quality of life.
• Current treatments for AD include anticholinergic medication and cognitive training, with limited efficacy in halting disease progression.

Observation:

• A 73-year-old male patient with AD received 10 daily sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
• tDCS was administered as an adjuvant therapy alongside his established treatment regimen.
• Cognitive performance was assessed using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and other neuropsychological tests.

Findings:

• The application of tDCS demonstrated a stabilizing effect on the patient's overall cognitive function.
• Significant improvements were observed across all secondary outcome measures, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Blessed Dementia Scale, and Disability Assessment for Dementia.
• The patient experienced enhanced performance in cognitive domains beyond the primary outcome measure.

Implications:

• These preliminary findings suggest that tDCS may serve as a valuable adjuvant therapeutic tool for enhancing cognitive rehabilitation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.
• tDCS offers a non-invasive neuromodulation approach that could complement existing AD treatment strategies.
• Further research is warranted to explore the broader efficacy and long-term benefits of tDCS in AD patient populations.