Long-term effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with computer-assisted cognitive training in healthy older adults
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze the long-term effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with computer-assisted cognitive training on working memory and cognitive function in healthy older adults aged at least 65 years. Forty healthy older adults were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups: anodal and sham tDCS. All participants completed 10 sessions of computer-assisted cognitive training, combined with tDCS of the bilateral prefrontal cortex. The accuracy of the verbal working memory task and performance of the digit span forward test were significantly improved after computer-assisted cognitive training combined with bifrontal anodal tDCS as compared with that after computer-assisted cognitive training combined with sham tDCS. Moreover, the effect lasts for 4 weeks in the verbal working memory task. We suggest that the tDCS-induced changes in the bilateral prefrontal excitability during computer-assisted cognitive training may have beneficial effects on age-related cognitive decrement in healthy older adults.
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Older adults who received active tDCS to the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with cognitive training performed better on verbal working memory and attention tasks compared to those who received sham tDCS.
“For example, older adults who received active tDCS to the bilateral prefrontal cortex combined with cognitive training performed better on verbal working memory and attention tasks compared to those who received sham tDCS [34].”
From Primary outcome from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT): A tDCS and cognitive training randomized clinical trial (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
Prior evidence shows enhanced cognitive performance in domains of working memory and episodic memory and evidence of transfer effects following active stimulation with cognitive training in older adults.
“This is surprising given prior evidence of enhanced cognitive performance in domains of working memory and episodic memory and evidence of transfer effects following active stimulation with cognitive training in older adults [33–36, 46, 47].”
From Primary outcome from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT): A tDCS and cognitive training randomized clinical trial (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
Combining tDCS with cognitive training has demonstrated additive effects on cognitive and functional abilities in younger and older adults.
“Combining tDCS with cognitive training has demonstrated additive effects on cognitive and functional abilities in younger [30–32] and older adults [33–36].”
From Primary outcome from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT): A tDCS and cognitive training randomized clinical trial (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
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Augmentation of working memory training by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
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- Authors
- Park, S.-H., Seo, J.-H., Kim, Y.-H., & Ko, M.-H.
- Affiliations
- Samsung Medical Center (KR)
- Jeonbuk National University Hospital (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Ko, Myoung-Hwan
- Venue
- NeuroReport
- Published
- 2014-01-22
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 122-126
- ISSN
- 0959-4965 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2030651552
- Cited by
- 180
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 6
- FWCI
- 7.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroreport (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- transcranial direct current stimulation, computerized cognitive training, older adults, working memory, prefrontal cortex, anodal tDCS, sham tDCS, long-term cognitive outcomes, age-related cognitive decline, digit span, verbal working memory
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Analysis of Variance, Cognition, Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted, Electric Stimulation, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Reaction Time, Verbal Learning, Chi-Square Distribution, Prefrontal Cortex
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