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Effects of multisite anodal transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive stimulation in patients with Alzheimer's disease and its neurophysiological correlates: A double-blind randomized clinical trial
Andrade SM, Machado DGDS, Silva-Sauerc LD, Regis CT, Mendes CKTT, de Araújo JSS, de Araújo KDT, Costa LP et al.. Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology, 2022-03-24
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objectives We aimed to examine the effects of multisite anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive stimulation (CS) over 2 months on cognitive performance and brain activity, and the relationship between them, in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Patients with AD were randomly assigned to an active tDCS+CS (n=18) or a sham tDCS+CS (n=18) group. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and brain activity using EEG (spectral power and coherence analysis) before and after the intervention. Multisite anodal tDCS (2 mA, 30 min) was applied over six brain regions [left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 and F4), Broca's area (F5), Wernicke's area (CP5), left and right somatosensory association cortex (P3 and P4)] for 24 sessions (three times a week). Both groups performed CS during tDCS. Results Anodal tDCS+CS delays cognitive decline (ADAS-cog change) to a greater extent than sham tDCS+CS (-3.4±1.1 vs. -1.7±0.4; p=.03). Bilateral EEG coherence at high and low frequencies was greater for the active tDCS+CS than sham+CS group for most electrode pairs assessed (p Conclusion Anodal tDCS+CS improved overall cognitive function and changed EEG brain activity compared to sham tDCS+CS. Changes in cognitive performance were associated with changes in EEG measures of brain activity. Anodal tDCS+CS appears to be a promising therapeutic strategy to modulate cortical activity and improve cognitive function in patients with AD.
Key findings
- Results Anodal tDCS+CS delays cognitive decline (ADAS-cog change) to a greater extent than sham tDCS+CS (-3.4±1.1 vs. -1.7±0.4; p=.03).
- Bilateral EEG coherence at high and low frequencies was greater for the active tDCS+CS than sham+CS group for most electrode pairs assessed (p Conclusion Anodal tDCS+CS improved overall cognitive function and changed EEG brain activity compared to sham tDCS+CS.
- Changes in cognitive performance were associated with changes in EEG measures of brain activity.
Why it matters
In this trial, people with Alzheimer disease who received active transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive stimulation showed less cognitive decline than those who received sham stimulation. This is a small trial, and it tested a symptomatic treatment rather than a cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants18
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neurophysiologie Clinique: journal h-index 93 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 18 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 46 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.7 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 38 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Bernardino Fernández‐Calvo: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Córdoba: institution h-index 411 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35339351) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Andrade, S. M., Machado, D. G. D. S., Silva-Sauerc, L. D., Regis, C. T., Mendes, C. K. T. T., de Araújo, J. S. S., et al. (2022). Effects of multisite anodal transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive stimulation in patients with Alzheimer's disease and its neurophysiological correlates: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2022.02.003
Vancouver
Andrade SM, Machado DGDS, Silva-Sauerc LD, Regis CT, Mendes CKTT, de Araújo JSS, et al. Effects of multisite anodal transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive stimulation in patients with Alzheimer's disease and its neurophysiological correlates: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology. 2022. doi:10.1016/j.neucli.2022.02.003. PMID: 35339351.
BibTeX
@article{andrade2022-35339351,
author = {Andrade, S. M. and Machado, D. G. D. S. and Silva-Sauerc, L. D. and Regis, C. T. and Mendes, C. K. T. T. and de Araújo, J. S. S. and de Araújo, K. D. T. and Costa, L. P. and others},
title = {{Effects of multisite anodal transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive stimulation in patients with Alzheimer's disease and its neurophysiological correlates: A double-blind randomized clinical trial}},
journal = {Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1016/j.neucli.2022.02.003},
pmid = {35339351},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2022.02.003}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 14.