The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Acute Ischemic Stroke-A Randomized, Double-blind,...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique with potential benefits for motor and cognitive recovery in chronic stroke.
• Its application in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the safety and efficacy of tDCS in acute ischemic stroke patients.
• To assess the impact of tDCS on motor function, neurological status, and functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial involving 60 acute ischemic stroke patients within 2 days of onset.
• Participants received 5 sessions of either real tDCS or sham stimulation over 7 days.
• Primary outcomes included changes in Fugl-Meyer (FM) motor scale, NIHSS scores, early neurological deterioration, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months.

Main Results:

• Early neurological deterioration occurred in 6.7% of the tDCS group versus 26.7% in the sham group (P=0.065).
• No statistically significant differences were found between groups for FM scores, NIHSS scores, or favorable functional outcomes (mRS ≤2) at 3 months.
• No significant group-by-time interactions were observed for FM or NIHSS scores.

Conclusions:

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is safe for acute ischemic stroke patients.
• While tDCS did not demonstrate significant improvements in motor or neurological outcomes compared to sham, a trend towards reduced early neurological deterioration was observed.
• Further research is warranted to explore the potential of tDCS in mitigating early neurological decline in acute stroke.