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67/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 67 out of 100. Treatments

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) is a recent development in non-invasive brain stimulations (NIBS) that has been proven to be effective in terms of significantly improving Alzheimer patients' cognition, memory, and execution functions. Nonetheless, there is, currently, no trial evaluating the efficacy of TPS on adults with major depression disorder (MDD) nationwide. In this single-blinded, randomized controlled trial, a 2-week TPS treatment comprising six 30 min TPS sessions were administered to participants. Participants were randomized into either the TPS group or the Waitlist Control (WC) group, stratified by gender and age according to a 1:1 ratio. Our primary outcome was evaluated by the Hamilton depression rating scale-17 (HDRS-17). We recruited 30 participants that were aged between 18 and 54 years, predominantly female (73%), and ethnic Chinese from 1 August to 31 October 2021. Moreover, there was a significant group x time interaction (F(1, 28) = 18.8, p p = 0.02, and Cohen's d = -0.93). The results showed a significant intervention effect; in addition, the effect was large and sustainable at the 3-month follow-up. In this trial, it was found that TPS is effective in reducing depressive symptoms among adults with MDD.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Cheung, T., Li, T. M. H., Ho, Y. S., Kranz, G., Fong, K. N. K., Leung, S. F., et al. (2023). Effects of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) on Adults with Symptoms of Depression-A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032333

Vancouver

Cheung T, Li TMH, Ho YS, Kranz G, Fong KNK, Leung SF, et al. Effects of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) on Adults with Symptoms of Depression-A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2023. doi:10.3390/ijerph20032333. PMID: 36767702.

BibTeX

@article{cheung2023-36767702,
  author  = {Cheung, T. and Li, T. M. H. and Ho, Y. S. and Kranz, G. and Fong, K. N. K. and Leung, S. F. and Lam, S. C. and Yeung, W. F. and others},
  title   = {{Effects of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) on Adults with Symptoms of Depression-A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial}},
  journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health},
  year    = {2023},
  doi     = {10.3390/ijerph20032333},
  pmid    = {36767702},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032333}
}

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Key findings

Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) is a recent development in non-invasive brain stimulations (NIBS) that has been proven to be effective in terms of significantly improving Alzheimer patients' cognition, memory, and execution functions.
Moreover, there was a significant group x time interaction (F(1, 28) = 18.8, p p = 0.02, and Cohen's d = -0.93).
The results showed a significant intervention effect; in addition, the effect was large and sustainable at the 3-month follow-up.

Why it matters

This small pilot trial tested transcranial pulse stimulation in 30 adults with major depression, not in people with Alzheimer's disease. It found reduced depressive symptoms, but it does not show any effect on treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

Study designrandomized controlled trial
Participants30
Evidence strengthHigh

How this study scored 67/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomized 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 (International journal of environmental research and public health)
Journal's citation record	3 / 4	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: journal h-index 320 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	11 / 12	A randomized controlled trial
Strength of evidence	5 / 5	Rated “high” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	3 / 5	2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	1 / 4	30 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)
Randomized / blinded	2 / 2	Randomized and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record)
Times cited	4 / 7	Cited 49 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	3 / 5	9.8 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 4.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	2 / 4	Cited 45 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Calvin Pak-Wing Cheng: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	Chinese University of Hong Kong: institution h-index 1,100 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 3 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36767702)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	67 / 100	—

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