Intermittent theta-burst stimulation for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a double-blind randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) significantly impacts patient quality of life.
• Standard repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) shows efficacy, but newer methods like intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) require validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) for treating post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).
• To compare iTBS efficacy against sham stimulation in PSCI patients.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 60 PSCI patients.
• Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) group received two 600-pulse sessions daily for four weeks.
• Cognitive function and daily living activities assessed using MMSE, MoCA, and MBI.

Main Results:

• Patients receiving iTBS showed significant improvements in MMSE, MoCA, and MBI scores compared to the sham group (p < 0.05).
• The iTBS treatment was well-tolerated, with only one reported headache and no serious adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Two blocks of iTBS therapy, each with 600 pulses and a 50-minute interval, demonstrated favorable therapeutic effects for PSCI.
• iTBS presents a promising, time-efficient treatment option for improving cognitive function and daily living in post-stroke patients.