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Stimulating aged brains with transcranial direct current stimulation: Opportunities and challenges
Annegret Habich1, Kristoffer D Fehér2, Daria Antonenko3
1University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherpa, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern, Switzerland; Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Older brains deviate from optimal homeostasis, allowing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) greater modulation potential. Adapting tDCS protocols enhances its effectiveness for cognitive benefits in aging adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Aging causes neurophysiological changes impacting cognitive function and brain stimulation responses.
- Older adults exhibit variable responses to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) compared to younger individuals.
- Age-related neurophysiological shifts influencing tDCS efficacy require in-depth investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss how age-related neurophysiological changes affect tDCS responsiveness in older adults.
- To explore the premise that aged brains, deviating from homeostasis, offer greater modulation potential for tDCS.
- To identify necessary adaptations in tDCS protocols for improved outcomes in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and theoretical discussion on neurophysiological changes during aging.
- Analysis of how deviations from homeostatic set-points influence brain plasticity.
- Consideration of age-specific challenges and protocol adaptations for tDCS.
Main Results:
- Aged brains operate further from a homeostatic optimum than young adult brains.
- This deviation potentially increases the capacity for tDCS to modulate the aged brain.
- tDCS may induce beneficial plastic changes towards equilibrium despite age-related plasticity impairments.
Conclusions:
- Age-related neurophysiological changes present unique opportunities and challenges for tDCS.
- Optimizing tDCS protocols by considering aged brain properties can enhance treatment efficacy and reliability.
- Tailored tDCS approaches hold promise for cognitive interventions in older adults.
