Bifrontal transcranial direct current stimulation modulates fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a randomized...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Fatigue is a prevalent and disabling symptom in central nervous system diseases, affecting up to 90% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
• MS-related fatigue often co-occurs with anxiety and depressive symptoms, significantly impairing quality of life.
• Noninvasive brain stimulation techniques are being explored as potential therapeutic interventions for neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of bifrontal transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) in alleviating fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in patients with MS.
• To assess the immediate and short-term effects of active versus sham tDCS on these symptoms.
• To determine if tDCS can modulate key symptoms impacting the daily lives of individuals with MS.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, crossover study involving 11 fatigued MS patients.
• Participants received five consecutive daily sessions of either active or sham bifrontal tDCS, with a 3-week washout period between conditions.
• Symptom evaluation occurred at baseline, day 5, and 1 week post-stimulation.

Main Results:

• Active tDCS significantly reduced fatigue by day 5, with effects persisting for at least one week post-stimulation.
• Significant improvements in anxiety symptoms were observed one week after active tDCS, suggesting a delayed effect.
• No significant impact of tDCS was found on depressive symptoms in this patient cohort.

Conclusions:

• Bifrontal tDCS demonstrates potential in modulating fatigue and anxiety in people with MS (PwMS).
• The anxiolytic effects may be a delayed consequence of tDCS or secondary to fatigue improvement.
• Further investigation in large-scale, controlled trials is warranted to confirm these findings and explore therapeutic applications.