J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2019 Nov;23(2):51-57. 10.0000/jkgp.2019.23.2.51.

Impact of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Computerized Cognitive Enhancement Training on Change in Cognitive Function of Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients : Existing, Sham Treatment Controlled, Pilot Study

• Lee SE
• Moon HS
• Chung ST
• Lee CU
• Kang DW

• KMID: 2464960
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jkgp.2019.23.2.51

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and computerized cognitive enhancement training combined treatment on cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, comparing to the application of the rTMS alone and the sham stimulation.
METHODS
Six MCI patients received high-frequency rTMS applied to the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, followed by the computerized cognitive enhancement training. In addition, six MCI patients took high-frequency rTMS alone. A sham stimulation was used as a control condition in 7 MCI patients. All stimuli were delivered at a frequency of two sessions per week for four weeks. Neuropsychological test was performed at each time points in each group.
RESULTS
Although there was the main effect of interaction between time and group on the score of the Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, only participants of the rTMS single treatment group showed significant improvement of this score.
CONCLUSION
In order to overcome the weaknesses of previous studies confirming the efficacy of the combination therapy, this study included patients with MCI, which was the pre-dementia stage, and included rTMS single treatment group, but did not confirm the clinical efficacy of the combination therapy. Small sample size, the baseline cognitive function score, and the ceiling effect of the group were considered to be the bias factor of this study and further studies supplementing these factors are needed.

Keyword

Mild cognitive impairment; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Computerized cognitive enhancement training; Active-controlled; Sham-controlled; Randomized controlled

MeSH Terms

Bias (Epidemiology)
Cognition*
Humans
Mild Cognitive Impairment*
Neuropsychological Tests
Pilot Projects*
Placebos*
Prefrontal Cortex
Sample Size
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*
Treatment Outcome
Placebos