The therapeutic efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in managing Alzheimer’s disease: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is widely used to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. However, the effect of rTMS is still controversial. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of rTMS on cognitive performance of AD patients.MethodsWe systematically searched relevant literatures in four major databases - PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [Central] before 28th April 2022. Both randomized controlled trials and cross-section studies that compared the therapeutic effect of rTMS with blank control or sham stimuli were included.ResultsA total of 14 studies involving 513 AD patients were finally included for meta-analysis. It was found that rTMS significantly improved global cognitive function (SMD = 0.24, 95%CI, 0.12 to 0.36, P = 0.0001) and daily living ability (IADL: SMD = 0.64, 95%CI, 0.21to 1.08, P = 0.004) in patients with AD, but did not show improvement in language, memory, executive ability, and mood. In further analyses, rTMS at 10 Hz, on a single target with 20 sessions of treatment was shown to produce a positive effect. In addition, improvement in cognitive functions lasted for at least 6 weeks (SMD = 0.67, 95%CI, 0.05 to 1.30,P = 0.04).ConclusionrTMS can improve the global cognition and daily living ability of AD patients. In addition, attention should be paid to the safety of rTMS in AD patients with seizures. Given the relatively small sample size, our results should be interpreted with caution.

Unlocking the Potential of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials to Optimize Intervention Strategies

“…Consistent with previous studies, Xie et al [ 85 ] examined the effects of rTMS on memory and executive function and found no substantial disparities compared with the control group. Similarly, Wei et al [ 23 ] discovered that while rTMS did not effectively ameliorate patients’ memory, executive function, or emotions, it was capable of enhancing their daily life abilities. Iimori et al [ 86 ] emphasized that, when compared to patients with depression, there was no evidence supporting the effectiveness of rTMS in improving the executive function of patients with AD and schizophrenia.…”

“…Moreover, increased motor excitability and cortical reorganization in AD may explain the frontomedial shift in motor areas, which is interpreted as a compensatory mechanism that preserves motor programming despite AD progression [21]. Most studies have shown that rTMS can effectively enhance the cognition [22,23], emotion [24], and language [25][26][27] in patients with AD. However, other studies have provided different perspectives.…”

“…To date, CT has been demonstrated to independently enhance cognitive abilities [37], slow cognitive decline for up to five years [38], and yield moderate effects with significant overall improvements in the behavioral and functional aspects of mild-to-moderate AD [39,40]. However, most meta-analyses of the effects of rTMS on AD have not excluded articles on rTMS combined with CT [22,23,41]. Consequently, the potential benefits of CT have not been excluded from these meta-analyses.…”

Research progress on the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: a narrative review

“…Therefore, in 2008, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the use of TMS in drug-resistant depression treatment ( 34 ). Currently, TMS is used in the treatment of nervous system diseases such as SCI ( 35 ), Alzheimer’s disease ( 36 ), Parkinson’s disease ( 37 ), multiple sclerosis ( 38 ), stroke-related disability ( 39 ), and schizophrenia ( 40 ). TMS use has achieved gratifying results in basic research and clinical trials; hence, it is a potential treatment method for nervous system diseases.…”

Investigation of EEG Neurophysiological Relationship to TMS Response in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

“…These pulses serve to stimulate neurons in the brain which, in turn, results in changes in cortical excitability [1]. Repeated stimulation of this nature has been correlated with improvements in cognitive functioning and depression symptoms, and thus has been implemented as a form of treatment for varieties of neurological and psychiatric disorders [2]- [4].…”