The combination of at-home transcranial alternating current stimulation and cognitive control training may enhance cognitive control abilities in multi-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
In a randomized trial, at-home transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in combination with cognitive control training (CCT) was found to be feasible and well-tolerated in individuals with multi-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment (md-aMCI). Kevin T. Jones et al. conducted a study to examine the feasibility of at-home non-invasive neuromodulation using tACS combined with CCT for md-aMCI management.
In this feasibility pilot study, 30 older adults (60-80 years of age) suffering from md-aMCI were randomly assigned to undergo 8 sessions of tACS along with CCT. The treatment was conducted at the subjects' home without direct assistance of the investigator. Half of the participants were given prefrontal theta tACS during CCT, while the other half received control tACS. At-home tACS combined with CCT was well-tolerated and showed high adherence.
Only the group receiving theta tACS demonstrated enhanced attentional abilities within a week. Neuromodulation can be conducted by the patient in their own home, enabling treatment in hard-to-reach populations. In individuals with md-aMCI, the combination of tACS with CCT may have the potential to improve cognitive control abilities.
These promising outcomes lay the foundation for future investigations and offer hope for developing effective interventions that could mitigate cognitive decline in individuals at risk of developing dementia. However, additional research with a larger population is required to validate its efficacy.
Scientific Reports
Enhancing cognitive control in amnestic mild cognitive impairment via at-home non-invasive neuromodulation in a randomized trial
Kevin T. Jones et al.
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