Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Mohsen Gholami; Mohammad Nami; Fatemeh Shamsi; Khojaste Rahimi Jaberi; Babak Kateb; Abbas Rahimi Jaberi

doi:10.1016/j.neucli.2021.05.003

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Neurophysiol Clin. 2021 Aug;51(4):319-328. doi: 10.1016/j.neucli.2021.05.003. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Authors

Mohsen Gholami¹, Mohammad Nami², Fatemeh Shamsi³, Khojaste Rahimi Jaberi⁴, Babak Kateb⁵, Abbas Rahimi Jaberi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
² Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Neuroscience Center, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panama City, Panama; Visiting Scientist, Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics and Brain Mapping Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁴ Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Students Research Committee, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁵ National Center for NanoBioElectoronics, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brain Technology and Innovation Park, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Brain Mapping Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience20-G20 Summit, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: rahimijaberia@gmail.com.

PMID: 34088588
DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2021.05.003

Abstract

Background: Around 40%-70% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience cognitive impairments during the course of their disease with detrimental effects on social and occupational activities. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS has been investigated in pain, fatigue, and mood disorders related to MS, but to date, few studies have examined effects of tDCS on cognitive performance in MS.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-session tDCS protocol on cognitive performance and resting-state brain electrical activities in patients with MS.

Methods: Twenty-four eligible MS patients were randomly assigned to real (anodal) or sham tDCS groups. Before and after 8 consecutive daily tDCS sessions over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), patients' cognitive performance was assessed using the Cambridge Brain Sciences-Cognitive Platform (CBS-CP). Cortical electrical activity was also evaluated using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) analysis at baseline and after the intervention.

Results: Compared to the sham condition, significant improvement in reasoning and executive functions of the patients in the real tDCS group was observed. Attention was also improved considerably but not statistically significantly following real tDCS. However, no significant changes in resting-state brain activities were observed after stimulation in either group.

Conclusion: Anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC appears to be a promising therapeutic option for cognitive dysfunction in patients with MS. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings and to investigate underlying neuronal mechanisms.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Multiple sclerosis; Quantitative EEG; Transcranial direct current stimulation.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Attention
Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
Cognitive Dysfunction* / therapy
Humans
Multiple Sclerosis* / complications
Multiple Sclerosis* / therapy
Prefrontal Cortex
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation*