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Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Simultaneous Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: April 27, 2014
White matter hyperintensities affect transcranial electrical stimulation in the aging brain
Aprinda Indahlastari1, Alejandro Albizu2, Emanuel M Boutzoukas1
1Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Background:
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are estimated to occur in greater than 63% of older adults over the age of 60 years. WMH identified in the T2-weighted FLAIR images can be combined with T1-weighted images to enhance individualized current flow models of older adults by accounting for the presence of WMH and its effects on delivered tES current in the aging brain.
Methods:
Individualized head models were derived from T1-weighted images of 130 healthy older adults (mean = 71 years). Lesions segmented from FLAIR acquisition were added to individualized models. Current densities were computed in the brain and compared between models with and without lesions.
Main Results:
Integrating WMH into the models resulted in an overall decrease (up to 7%) in median current densities in the brain outside lesion regions. Changes in current density and total lesion volume was positively correlated (R2 = 0.31, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Incorporating WMH into individualized models may increase the accuracy of predicted tES current flow in the aging brain.
