Carlo Miniussi

University of Trento, Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), Faculty Member

The Saint John of God Clinical Research Centre – IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Cognitive Neuroscience Section,, Faculty Member

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The core of Carlo Miniussi activity is driven by the goal to understand if cortical plasticity can be induced and manipulated by means of non-invasive brain stimulation in healthy and pathological adult brain. To understand what is the relation between induced synaptic plasticity and cognitive plasticity, and how plasticity can be represented at cognitive level comprising of the activity of a “cognitive functional network”. This is carried on by means of non invasive brain stimulation techniques (i.e., TMS, rTMS, tDCS, tACS and tRNS) combined with other research methods (EEG, fMRI and co-registration TMS-EEG).
Address: Dept of Clinical and Experimental Sciences
University of Brescia
Viale Europa 11 25123 Brescia, Italy

Cognitive Neuroscience Section
IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli
Via Pilastroni, 4 25125
Brescia, Italy

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Martina Acerbi

Eman M Khedr

Agustin Ibanez

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Universidad de San Andrés

Max Zimer

Catarina Freitas

Iglis Innocenti

Jose Maria Delgado Garcia

Universidad Pablo de Olavide

Chiara Volpato

Frediano Tezzon

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Cortical excitability modulation and neuroplasticity are considered essential mechanisms for impr... more Cortical excitability modulation and neuroplasticity are considered essential mechanisms for improving clinical and cognitive abilities in neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). In such context, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows great promise for facilitating remodeling of neurosynaptic organization. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of how tDCS is currently used as a neurorehabilitation strategy in some NDDs. We describe results from studies in which tDCS was applied in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and primary progressive aphasia. Currently, findings related to the ability of tDCS to restore cognitive dysfunctions and behavioral impairments in these NDDs do not seem to support the notion that tDCS shows clear therapeutic efficacy in patients with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and primary progressive aphasia. This is probably because tDCS research in this area is still in its early stages. Methodological concerns, such as differences in tDCS parameters (eg, intensity or duration), target sites, and study design (eg, the relationship between tDCS and the rehabilitation strategy), or the use of underpowered sample sizes may also contribute to these outcomes. Nevertheless, it is important to note that almost no studies have evaluated how the underlying neurophysiological state of patients should guide the application of tDCS. These results should not prevent the use of tDCS in these NDDs, but they should trigger a deeper evaluation of how tDCS should be used. Transcranial direct current stimulation cannot be considered a neurorehabilitation apparatus by itself but should be instead viewed as a method for weakly modulating existing brain excitability. Future studies should aim to improve our understanding of the neurophys-iological mechanisms that underlie the clinical effects of tDCS with the final goal of designing and performing individualized stimulation protocols that can be tailored for each NDD patient and combined with other appropriate neurorehabilitation strategies.

Carlo Miniussi

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