Cited by 97Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation StudiesTreatment of Major DepressionElectroconvulsive Therapy Studies

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for geriatric depression

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Cappon, Davide, den Boer, Tim, Jordan, Caleb, Yu, Wanting, Metzger, Eran, Pascual-Leone, Alvaro·2022·Ageing Research Reviews

Abstract

Background The prevalence of treatment-resistant geriatric depression (GD) highlights the need for treatments that preserve cognitive functions and recognize polypharmacy in elderly, yet effectively reduce symptom burden. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a proven intervention for treatment-resistant depression in younger adults but the efficacy of TMS to treat depressed older adults is still unclear. This review provides an updated view on the efficacy of TMS treatment for GD, discusses methodological differences between trials in TMS application, and explores avenues for optimization of TMS treatment in the context of the ageing brain. Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify published literature on the antidepressant efficacy of TMS for GD. Databases PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched for English language articles in peer-reviewed journals in March 2021. Results Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (total n = 260, active n = 148, control n = 112) and seven uncontrolled trials (total n = 160) were included. Overall, we found substantial variability in the clinical response, ranging from 6.7% to 54.3%. Conclusions The reviewed literature highlights large heterogeneity among studies both in terms of the employed TMS dosage and the observed clinical efficacy. This highlights the need for optimizing TMS dosage by recognizing the unique clinical features of GD. We showcase a set of novel approaches for the optimization of the TMS protocol for depression and discuss the possibility for a standardized TMS protocol tailored for the treatment of GD.

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  1. Duke J (2011). Anesthesia Secrets. Elsevier Health Sciences.
  2. Siddiqi SH, Taylor SF, Cooke D, Pascual-Leone A, George MS, & Fox MD (2020b). Distinct Symptom-Specific Treatment Targets for Circuit-Based Neuromodulation. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(5), 435– 446. 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19090915 32160765 PMC8396109 · DOI · Paper page

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Authors
Cappon, D., den Boer, T., Jordan, C., Yu, W., Metzger, E., & Pascual-Leone, A.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Hebrew SeniorLife (US)
Corresponding author
Cappon, Davide
Venue
Ageing Research Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-02
Volume
74
Pages
101531
ISSN
1568-1637 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3216489878
Cited by
97
References
142
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 11
FWCI
1.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Ageing Research Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (P01AG031720, R01AG059089, R24AG06142)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
Keywords
transcranial magnetic stimulation, geriatric depression, treatment-resistant depression, older adults, antidepressant efficacy, brain aging, cognitive preservation, polypharmacy
MeSH terms
Aged, Aging, Depression, Humans, Treatment Outcome, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

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