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Integrating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and Mediterranean diet for cognitive and anxiety improvement in early Alzheimer's disease: A case report and literature review
Yumei Liu, Lin Zhu, Zian Pei, Zhifan Zhou, Xiaolin Su, Huixia Ren, Shuhan Fan, Xiaoyong Lan et al.. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports, 2025-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
A 52-year-old male with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and long-standing anxiety received 30 repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions over 8 months and 20-month Mediterranean diet intervention. Neuropsychological assessments [Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and resting-state electroencephalogram (rsEEG) were conducted at baseline, during treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. After treatment, MoCA and MMSE scores improved by 6 and 5 points; HAMA and HAMD scores declined by 7 and 3 points. rsEEG showed progressive increases in individual alpha peak frequency (8.69 to 10.22 Hz), enhancement of alpha power, and reduction in theta power. Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β 42 levels also normalized. The patient reported marked mental well-being.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Liu, Y., Zhu, L., Pei, Z., Zhou, Z., Su, X., Ren, H., et al. (2025). Integrating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and Mediterranean diet for cognitive and anxiety improvement in early Alzheimer's disease: A case report and literature review. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/25424823251377988
Vancouver
Liu Y, Zhu L, Pei Z, Zhou Z, Su X, Ren H, et al. Integrating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and Mediterranean diet for cognitive and anxiety improvement in early Alzheimer's disease: A case report and literature review. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports. 2025. doi:10.1177/25424823251377988. PMID: 40969222.
BibTeX
@article{liu2025-40969222,
author = {Liu, Yumei and Zhu, Lin and Pei, Zian and Zhou, Zhifan and Su, Xiaolin and Ren, Huixia and Fan, Shuhan and Lan, Xiaoyong and others},
title = {{Integrating repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and Mediterranean diet for cognitive and anxiety improvement in early Alzheimer's disease: A case report and literature review}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/25424823251377988},
pmid = {40969222},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/25424823251377988}
}
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.
Key findings
- A 52-year-old male with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and long-standing anxiety received 30 repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions over 8 months and 20-month Mediterranean diet intervention.
- Neuropsychological assessments [Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and resting-state electroencephalogram (rsEEG) were conducted at baseline, during treatment, and at 6-month follow-up.
- After treatment, MoCA and MMSE scores improved by 6 and 5 points; HAMA and HAMD scores declined by 7 and 3 points. rsEEG showed progressive increases in individual alpha peak frequency (8.69 to 10.22 Hz), enhancement of alpha power, and reduction in theta power.
- Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-β 42 levels also normalized.
- The patient reported marked mental well-being.
Why it matters
This is a single case report of one man with early Alzheimer's disease who received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and a Mediterranean diet, and his cognitive and anxiety scores improved. As a single case with no control group, it cannot show that these treatments cure, treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports: journal h-index 40 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.3× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yi Guo: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Southern University of Science and Technology: institution h-index 551 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40969222) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/25424823251377988
- PubMed: 40969222
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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