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TITLE
Similar Clinical Improvement and Maintenance after rTMS at 5 Hz Using a Simple vs. Complex Protocol in Alzheimer’s Disease
SOURCE
Brain Stimulation. 11(3):625-627, 2018 May – Jun.
AUTHORS
Alcala-Lozano R; Morelos-Santana E; Cortes-Sotres JF; Garza-Villarreal EA; Sosa-Ortiz AL; Gonzalez-Olvera JJ.
BACKGROUND
Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have a limited clinical response and methods, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are being studied as possible treatments for the clinical symptoms with positive results. However, there is still seldom information on the type of rTMS protocols that deliver the best clinical improvement in AD.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical response between a simple stimulation protocol on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) against a complex protocol using six regions of interest.
METHODS
19 participants were randomized to receive any of the protocols. The analysis of repeated measures evaluated the change.
RESULTS
Both protocols were equally proficient at improving cognitive function, behavior and functionality after 3 weeks of treatment, and the effects were maintained for 4 weeks more without treatment.
CONCLUSION
We suggest rTMS on the lDLPFC could be enough to provide a clinical response, and the underlying mechanisms should be studied.
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