Similar clinical improvement and maintenance after rTMS at 5 Hz using a simple vs. complex protocol in Alzheimer's disease

• Published in: Brain stimulation Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 625 - 627
• Main Authors: Alcalá-Lozano, R., Morelos-Santana, E., Cortés-Sotres, J.F., Garza-Villarreal, E.A., Sosa-Ortiz, A.L., González-Olvera, J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2018
• Subjects: Alzheimer disease; Behavioral symptoms; Cognitive function; Dementia; Transcranial magnetic stimulation, repetitive; Behavioral symptoms; Cognitive function; Alzheimer disease; Transcranial magnetic stimulation, repetitive; Dementia
• ISSN: 1935-861X; 1876-4754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.12.011

Current treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have a limited clinical response and methods, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are being studied as possible treatments for the clinical symptoms with positive results. However, there is still seldom information on the type of rTMS protocols that deliver the best clinical improvement in AD. Objetive: To compare the clinical response between a simple stimulation protocol on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) against a complex protocol using six regions of interest. Methods: 19 participants were randomized to receive any of the protocols. The analysis of repeated measures evaluated the change.
Both protocols were equally proficient at improving cognitive function, behavior and functionality after 3 weeks of treatment, and the effects were maintained for 4 weeks more without treatment.
We suggest rTMS on the lDLPFC could be enough to provide a clinical response, and the underlying mechanisms should be studied.