Transcranial Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Dementia

Overview of Trans-cranial Electrical Nerve Stimulation[edit | edit source]

Transcranial electrical nerve stimulation,tES or Cranial Electrical Nerve Stimulation, CES, is a non-invasive brain stimulation where brain activity is excited or inhibited by application of a low voltage constant or alternating currents to the human brain via scalp electrodes.[1] Rcently, Because of its potential ability to alter brain neuronal excitability and connectivity TES is becoming a topic for non-pharmacological management of various cognitive related conditions and this concept is still under research for effectiveness.[2] Transcranial Stimulation and is one of the techniques used to stimulate the brain of a person with dementia.[3] and recent evidence had shown that CES alone or in combination with physiotherapy improves certain functional activities in person with possible cognitive impairment[4], Yet, trans-cranial electrical nerve stimulation is not a common practice among physiotherapists who are one of the experts in dementia management. Accordingly, this paper will provide information on the CES method of application to stimulate the brain of a person with dementia.

Dementia (Major Neurocognitive disorder)[edit | edit source]

DSM-5 details on the definition and diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders.[5] Dementia, now referred to as a major neurocognitive disorder under DSM-5 for neurocognitive disorder, is an impairment in one or more cognitive domains with impaired functional status[5], which is of concern to both patient and patient relative. A cognitive impairment without significant effect on a person with dementia's  activities of daily living is considered mild neurocognitive impairment.Neuropsychological and behavioral characteristics such as anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances are prominent features of dementia.[6][7] Such symptoms, including neurocognitive dysfunction, may be enhanced by using transcranial electrical nerve stimulation.[3][8][9].

Cognitive Impairment Assessment[edit | edit source]

Evaluating a person with dementia requires standardized neuropsychological assessment tools. Among these tools, the most common universally used is Mini Mental State Examination[10] and for functional status, Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) for older adults might be used[11]. In addition, these tools can be used to monitor the progress of the intervention of a person with major neurocognitive impairment.

Cranial Electrical Nerve Stimulation (CES) intervention[edit | edit source]

Scholars argued that tES could stimulate the brain and improve both cognitive impairment and neuropsychological characteristics of the dementia.[3] However, the use of electrotherapy modalities such as tES requires a skin sensation test to determine whether the intervention is appropriate. Furthermore, the application of CES requires a number of parameters  and this depend  on the objectives to be achieved[9] [12]. Moreno-Duarte,[9] argued that low-level transcranial electrical nerve stimulation is the most documented intensity level of CES application and four methods exist for this: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) (see Figure 1 for more information). Although there is still some controversy regarding the use of CES among people with dementia, there is support for the evidence that the use of CES combined with physiotherapy or not improve cognitive, physical and behavioral characteristics of a person with dementia.[4][13]

Figure 1

CES in Physiotherapy Practice for Brain Stimulation[edit | edit source]

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a widely reported type of cranial electrical nerve stimulation in Physiotherapy.[15]. Schabrun[15] noted that with different TENS parameters for different conditons, tDCS could improve both neurological and musculoskeletal conditons. Also, Yotnuengnit et al., [4] reported that tDCS improves gait speed and step length among patients with Parkinson disease. While CES may be beneficial in stimulating a person with a brain dementia, further studies are needed in patients with cognitive impairment to determine the efficacy of this intervention.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Bestmann S, Walsh V. Transcranial electrical stimulation. Current Biology. 2017 Dec 4;27(23):R1258-62.
  2. Reed T, Kadosh RC. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) mechanisms and its effects on cortical excitability and connectivity. Journal of inherited metabolic disease. 2018 Nov 2;41(6):1123-30.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Cameron MH, Lonergan E, Lee H. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003(3).
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Yotnuengnit P, Bhidayasiri R, Donkhan R, Chaluaysrimuang J, Piravej K. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation plus physical therapy on gait in patients with Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation. 2018 Jan 1;97(1):7-15.
  5. 5.0 5.1 American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub; 2013 May 22.
  6. Burke AD, Goldfarb D, Bollam P, Khokher S. Diagnosing and Treating Depression in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurology and therapy. 2019 Aug 1:1-26.
  7. Müller-Spahn F. Behavioral disturbances in dementia. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience. 2003 Mar;5(1):49.
  8. Das N, Spence JS, Aslan S, Vanneste S, Mudar R, Rackley A, Quiceno M, Chapman SB. Cognitive training and transcranial direct current stimulation in mild cognitive impairment: A randomized pilot trial. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2019;13:307.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Moreno-Duarte I, Gebodh N, Schestatsky P, Guleyupoglu B, Reato D, Bikson M, Fregni F. Transcranial electrical stimulation: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS), and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). InThe stimulated brain 2014 Jan 1 (pp. 35-59). Academic Press.
  10. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. “Mini-mental state”: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of psychiatric research. 1975 Nov 1;12(3):189-98.
  11. Mayo AM. Use of the Functional Activities Questionnaire in older adults with dementia. Try This: Best Practices in Nursing Care to Older Adults with Dementia D. 2012;13.
  12. Peterchev AV, Wagner TA, Miranda PC, Nitsche MA, Paulus W, Lisanby SH, Pascual-Leone A, Bikson M. Fundamentals of transcranial electric and magnetic stimulation dose: definition, selection, and reporting practices. Brain stimulation. 2012 Oct 1;5(4):435-53.
  13. Elsner B, Kugler J, Pohl M, Mehrholz J. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for improving activities of daily living, and physical and cognitive functioning, in people after stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016(3).
  14. Moreno-Duarte I, Gebodh N, Schestatsky P, Guleyupoglu B, Reato D, Bikson M, Fregni F. Transcranial electrical stimulation: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS), and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). InThe stimulated brain 2014 Jan 1 (pp. 35-59). Academic Press.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Schabrun SM. Transcranial direct current stimulation: a place in the future of physiotherapy?. Physical Therapy Reviews. 2010 Aug 1;15(4):320-6.