Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cognition in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Systematic Review of the Evidence and Future Directions.
Neuroscientist
; 27(3): 285-309, 2021 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32644874
ABSTRACT
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been implemented in neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive impairment. However, methodological heterogeneity challenges conclusive remarks. Through a critical analysis of previous conflicting findings and in the light of current neurobiological models of pathophysiology, we qualitatively assessed the effects of tDCS in neuropsychiatric disorders that share neurobiological underpinnings, as to evaluate whether stimulation can improve cognitive deficits in patients' cohorts. We performed a systematic review of tDCS studies targeting cognitive functions in mental disorders and pathological cognitive aging. Data from 41 studies, comprising patients with diagnosis of mood disorders, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were included. Results indicate that tDCS has the capacity to enhance processing speed, working memory, and executive functions in patients with mood and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The evidence of a positive effect on general cognitive functioning and memory is either inconclusive in AD, or weak in MCI. Future directions are discussed for developing standardized stimulation protocols and for translating the technique therapeutic potential into effective clinical practice.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Alzheimer Disease
/
Cognitive Dysfunction
/
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Type of study:
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Neuroscientist
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
/
PSIQUIATRIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy