IEEE EMBS Winnipeg Chapter Research Seminar

Neurophysiological Monitoring of the efficacy of transcranial alternating current stimulation as a treatment for Alzheimer’s

Abstract

Neurophysiological changes due to either real or sham transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) when paired with cognitive exercises were assessed in 35 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or AD mixed with cerebrovascular disease utilizing Electrovestibulography (EVestG) in comparison with ADAS-Cog, as the primary outcome measure of cognitive function. Both measures were made at baseline (Week 0, W0), post (W5) and follow-up (W12). For EVestG a comparative analysis of the interval histogram (IH33) of the neuronal firing pattern was made. The results were further analysed based on the patients’ modified Hachinski Ischaemic Score (HIS) to determine the impact of cerebrovascular disease (cvd) on these responses. Important findings include: 1) For real tACS stimulation the differences observed between right and left side responses were primarily a consequence of the tACS electrodes’ positioning. 2) Using ADAS-Cog, those with HIS>2 benefit more than those with HIS<2 from tACS stimulation at W5. 3) The EVestG-detected frequency shifts in neural activity show significant differences in subgroups HIS2, supporting a different time course and possible mechanisms. 4) For the real tACS stimulation an improved cognitive score generally manifested at W12 as an increase in firing rate. 5) Cognitive exercises alone (with sham tACS) can produce an improved cognition regardless of HIS <a href="http://grouping.

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We conclude both groups of cognitive exercises and real/sham tACS appear to be effective but have different time constants and perhaps different overall modes of action. Further, the IH33 measure is shown to be effective in detecting the effect of cognitive exercises alone (sham tACS) or with real <a href="http://tACS.

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Co-sponsored by: Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba

Speaker(s): Dr. Brian Lithgow,

Room: EITC E2-304, Bldg: Engineering & Information Technology Complex, 75 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada