Effect of tDCS combined with virtual reality for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) significantly increases mortality, disability, and impacts daily activities.
• Current PSCI treatments lack specificity, relying on medication and traditional cognitive therapy.
• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and virtual reality (VR) show promise individually for cognitive improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the effects of a combined tDCS and VR (tDCS-VR) therapy on PSCI rehabilitation.
• To investigate if tDCS-VR offers superior benefits compared to individual interventions for PSCI.
• To provide scientific evidence for the practical application of tDCS-VR in PSCI recovery.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week, single-center randomized clinical trial involving 200 PSCI patients.
• Four groups: tDCS + VR, tDCS + sham VR, sham tDCS + VR, and sham tDCS + sham VR.
• Primary outcome: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); Secondary outcomes: various cognitive tests, Modified Barthel Index, and speech function assessment.
• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) used to monitor cerebral cortical activity.

Main Results:

• Hypothesis: tDCS-VR therapy will enhance cognitive function, speech, and daily living skills in PSCI patients.
• Expected outcome: Augmented frontal cortical activity in the tDCS-VR group.
• The study aims to provide robust evidence for the efficacy of combined tDCS-VR therapy.

Conclusions:

• The tDCS-VR combination is hypothesized to be a secure and efficient approach for PSCI rehabilitation.
• This approach may offer enhanced benefits over individual tDCS or VR interventions.
• The study seeks to establish a strong scientific foundation for tDCS-VR therapy in PSCI recovery.