Inferior parietal transcranial direct current stimulation with training improves cognition in anomic Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Issue 2 (24th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roncero, Carlos; Kniefel, Heike; Service, Erik; Thiel, Alexander; Probst, Stephan; Chertkow, Howard
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 3:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 247
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2017-03-24
• Subjects: tDCS -- Anomia -- Object naming -- PPA -- Training; Dementia -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alzheimer's disease -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; 616.831
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2017.03.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-8737

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: We evaluated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve picture‐naming abilities in subjects with anomic Alzheimer or frontotemporal dementias. Methods: Using a double‐blind crossover design, 10 participants were trained on picture naming over a series of 10 sessions with either 30 minutes of anodal (2 mA) tDCS stimulation to the left inferior parieto‐temporal region (P3) or sham stimulation. We evaluated performance on a trained picture‐naming list, an equivalent untrained list, and additional neuropsychological tasks. Results: Participants improved significantly more receiving real stimulation rather than sham stimulation (40% vs. 19%, P < .01), lasting at least 2 weeks after stimulation. Furthermore, these participants showed a small increase for untrained picture‐naming items and digit span when they received real stimulation but a decrease when sham stimulation was received. Discussion: tDCS stimulation has promise as a treatment for anomia in demented individuals and the effect can generalize to unstudied items as well as other cognitive abilities.