Age-Related Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Effects on Executive Function in Depression: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Objective The aims of the current review were to: 1) examine whether the rTMS effects on executive function increase as age advances; 2) to examine the potential of rTMS to remediate executive function in older depressed patients; and 3) to assess the relationship between the executive function and mood benefits from rTMS in depression. Methods Randomized or matched-groups, blind, sham-controlled studies (12 studies, 347 participants) on excitatory rTMS applied to left DLPFC in depression were reviewed. Results A series of meta-regressions found no evidence of greater rTMS effects on executive functions as age advances. Similarly, meta-analyses showed no significant rTMS effects on executive functions in older depressed individuals. However, meta-regression analyses showed that the size of the executive function benefits from rTMS in depression are positively related to the effect size of mood symptom reduction. Despite its correlational nature, this finding is consistent with the idea that improvement in executive function may play a critical role in depression recovery. Conclusions The authors consider these findings preliminary because of the modest number of available studies. Based on a qualitative review, the authors describe methodologic modifications that may increase rTMS efficacy for both executive functions and mood in late-life depression.
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Ilieva et al. revealed a positive correlation between the effects of left-sided TMS targeting the DLPFC and age in terms of cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility.
“Ilieva et al.14 revealed a positive correlation between the effects of left-sided TMS targeting the DLPFC and age in terms of cognitive inhibition and cognitive flexibility.”
From Can Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Relieve Executive Dysfunction in Patients With Late-Life Depression? (2024) · cites this paper as [14]
Other rTMS studies in late-life depression found no significant changes in cognitive function after treatment.
“However, other studies found no significant changes in cognitive function after treatment.”
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- Authors
- Ilieva, I. P., Alexopoulos, G. S., Dubin, M. J., Morimoto, S. S., Victoria, L. W., & Gunning, F. M.
- Affiliations
- NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ilieva, Irena P.
- Venue
- The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-03
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 334-346
- ISSN
- 1064-7481 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2755008335
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- TAL Medical, Inc
- 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
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, executive function, depression, older adults, geriatric depression, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, age effects, mood improvement, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Executive Function, Cognitive Dysfunction
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