scholarly journals Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Orcioli-Silva ◽  
Aisha Islam ◽  
Mark R. Baker ◽  
Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi ◽  
Lynn Rochester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Treadmill Walking ◽  
Compensatory Mechanism ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Gait Parameters

Background: Walking in the “real world” involves motor and cognitive processes. In relation to this, declines in both motor function and cognition contribute to age-related gait dysfunction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and treadmill walking (STW) have potential to improve gait, particularly during dual-task walking (DTW); walking whilst performing a cognitive task. Our aims were to analyze effects of combined anodal tDCS + STW intervention on cortical activity and gait during DTW.Methods: Twenty-three young adults (YA) and 21 older adults (OA) were randomly allocated to active or sham tDCS stimulation groups. Participants performed 5-min of mixed treadmill walking (alternating 30 s bouts of STW and DTW) before and after a 20-min intervention of active or sham tDCS + STW. Anodal electrodes were placed over the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the vertex (Cz) using 9 cm2 electrodes at 0.6 mA. Cortical activity of the PFC, primary motor cortex (M1), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA) bilaterally were recorded using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system. Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels were analyzed as indicators of cortical activity. An accelerometer measured gait parameters. We calculated the difference between DTW and STW for HbO2 and gait parameters. We applied linear mixed effects models which included age group (YA vs. OA), stimulation condition (sham vs. active), and time (pre- vs. post-intervention) as fixed effects. Treadmill belt speed was a covariate. Partial correlation tests were also performed.Results: A main effect of age group was observed. OA displayed higher activity bilaterally in the PFC and M1, unilaterally in the right PMC and higher gait variability than YA. M1 activity decreased in both YA and OA following active tDCS + STW. There was no overall effect of tDCS + STW on PFC activity or gait parameters. However, negative correlations were observed between changes in left PFC and stride length variability following active tDCS + STW intervention.Conclusion: Increased activity in multiple cortical areas during DTW in OA may act as a compensatory mechanism. Reduction in M1 activity following active tDCS + STW with no observed gait changes suggests improved neural efficiency.

Comparison of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex and Cerebellum on Static Balance in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamzeh Baharlouei ◽  
Ebrahim Sadeghi-demneh ◽  
Mohammad Mehravar ◽  
Parisa Manzari ◽  
Mohammad Jafar Shaterzadeh Yazdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Static Balance ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Stimulation Of

scholarly journals TARGETED TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION IMPROVES DUAL-TASK WALKING PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S794-S794
Author(s):  
Brad Manor ◽  
Junhong Zhou ◽  
On-Yee Lo ◽  
Racheli Katz ◽  
Marina Brozgol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Left Dlpfc

Abstract In older adults, the ability to walk while engaged in an unrelated cognitive task (i.e., dual tasking) depends upon activation of both motor and cognitive brain networks. Noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can facilitate the excitability of specific brain regions and their connected neural networks. In this multi-site, randomized controlled within-subject cross-over study, we tested the effects of single, 20-minute sessions of tDCS targeting 1) the primary motor cortex (M1), 2) the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC, a primary region subserving cognitive function), 3) both M1 and left dlPFC, or 4) neither region (sham). Forty-eight older adults free of overt illness or disease (mean±SD age=75±6 years, 35 women) completed four study visits at least 72 hours apart, during which dual task gait was assessed before and after tDCS administration. Stimulation was delivered using the Starstim™ system (Neuroelectrics Corp) and the same array of six gel electrodes to ensure double-blinding. Participants were successfully blinded to tDCS condition and reported no unexpected tDCS side effects. Repeated-measures ANOVAs adjusted for age and sex revealed that the dual task cost to gait speed was smaller (i.e., better and closer to zero) following tDCS that targeted both M1 and the left dlPFC, as well as the left dlPFC alone, compared to all other time points (condition-time interaction: F=3.0, p=0.04). The dual task costs following these two types of stimulation were similar. These results suggest that noninvasive facilitation of cognitive-motor brain network excitability leads to acute improvement in dual task performance in older adults.

scholarly journals Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Enhance Functionality in Older Adults? A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 2981
Author(s):  
Andrés Pino-Esteban ◽  
Álvaro Megía-García ◽  
David Martín-Caro Álvarez ◽  
Hector Beltran-Alacreu ◽  
Juan Avendaño-Coy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Sham Stimulation ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Potential Benefits

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, easy to administer, well-tolerated, and safe technique capable of affecting brain excitability, both at the cortical and cerebellum levels. However, its effectiveness has not been sufficiently assessed in all population segments or clinical applications. This systematic review aimed at compiling and summarizing the currently available scientific evidence about the effect of tDCS on functionality in older adults over 60 years of age. A search of databases was conducted to find randomized clinical trials that applied tDCS versus sham stimulation in the above-mentioned population. No limits were established in terms of date of publication. A total of 237 trials were found, of which 24 met the inclusion criteria. Finally, nine studies were analyzed, including 260 healthy subjects with average age between 61.0 and 85.8 years. Seven of the nine included studies reported superior improvements in functionality variables following the application of tDCS compared to sham stimulation. Anodal tDCS applied over the motor cortex may be an effective technique for improving balance and posture control in healthy older adults. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to determine the most effective protocols and to clarify potential benefits for older adults.

scholarly journals Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with listening to preferred music on memory in older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricky Chow ◽  
Alix Noly-Gandon ◽  
Aline Moussard ◽  
Jennifer D. Ryan ◽  
Claude Alain
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation

AbstractListening to autobiographically-salient music (i.e., music evoking personal memories from the past), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have each been suggested to temporarily improve older adults’ subsequent performance on memory tasks. Limited research has investigated the effects of combining both tDCS and music listening together on cognition. The present study examined whether anodal tDCS stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (2 mA, 20 min) with concurrent listening to autobiographically-salient music amplified subsequent changes in working memory and recognition memory in older adults than either tDCS or music listening alone. In a randomized sham-controlled crossover study, 14 healthy older adults (64–81 years) participated in three neurostimulation conditions: tDCS with music listening (tDCS + Music), tDCS in silence (tDCS-only), or sham-tDCS with music listening (Sham + Music), each separated by at least a week. Working memory was assessed pre- and post-stimulation using a digit span task, and recognition memory was assessed post-stimulation using an auditory word recognition task (WRT) during which electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. Performance on the backwards digit span showed improvement in tDCS + Music, but not in tDCS-only or Sham + Music conditions. Although no differences in behavioural performance were observed in the auditory WRT, changes in neural correlates underlying recognition memory were observed following tDCS + Music compared to Sham + Music. Findings suggest listening to autobiographically-salient music may amplify the effects of tDCS for working memory, and highlight the potential utility of neurostimulation combined with personalized music to improve cognitive performance in the aging population.

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