Changes in cerebral glucose metabolism after 3weeks of noninvasive electrical stimulation of mild cognitive impairment patients.

Kyongsik Yun,In-Uk Song,Yong-An Chung

doi:10.1186/s13195-016-0218-6

Abstract

BackgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome that disrupts an individual’s cognitive function but preserves activities of daily living. MCI is thought to be a prodromal stage of dementia, which disrupts patients’ daily lives and causes severe cognitive dysfunction. Although extensive clinical trials have attempted to slow or stop the MCI to dementia conversion, the results have been largely unsuccessful. The purpose of this study was to determine whether noninvasive electrical stimulation of MCI changes glucose metabolism.MethodsSixteen MCI patients participated in this study. We used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (2 mA/day, three times per week for 3 weeks) and assessed positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG) before and after 3 weeks of stimulation.ResultsWe showed that regular and relatively long-term use of tDCS significantly increased regional cerebral metabolism in MCI patients. Furthermore, subjective memory satisfaction and improvement of the memory strategies of participants were observed only in the real tDCS group after 3 weeks of stimulation.ConclusionOur findings suggest that neurophysiological intervention of MCI could improve glucose metabolism and transient memory function in MCI patients.

Highlights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome that disrupts an individual’s cognitive function but preserves activities of daily living
Galantamine, an Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), has been tested for the treatment of MCI, but there was no significant difference in the progression rate to dementia
Several trials are underway to determine whether antioxidants or cognitive stimulants might slow the MCI to dementia conversion [9], the results so far have been disappointing; only one randomized trial of a small group treated with a dopamine agonist showed a significant improvement in the Mini-Mental State Examination score (MMSE) [12]

Summary

Introduction

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome that disrupts an individual’s cognitive function but preserves activities of daily living. Amnestic MCI patients treated for 24 weeks with donepezil showed no improvement in the performance of a delayed recall memory test [10]. Based on these clinical results, a Cochrane review concluded that no evidence exists to indicate that donepezil is beneficial for MCI patients [11]. Several trials are underway to determine whether antioxidants or cognitive stimulants might slow the MCI to dementia conversion [9], the results so far have been disappointing; only one randomized trial of a small group treated with a dopamine agonist showed a significant improvement in the Mini-Mental State Examination score (MMSE) [12]

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