STUDY PROTOCOL article

Front. Neurol.

Sec. Neurorehabilitation

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1605970

An integrated multifocal tDCS-EEG protocol for reducing cognitive and affective symptoms in Mild Cognitive Impairment and early stages of Dementia: a crossover double-blind randomised controlled trial

Provisionally accepted
Laura CatalanoLaura Catalano1Laura SaglianoLaura Sagliano1Anna VisciglioAnna Visciglio2Pasquale RussoPasquale Russo2Stefania MinielloStefania Miniello3Luigi TrojanoLuigi Trojano1Francesco PanicoFrancesco Panico1*
  • 1University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
  • 2Alma Mater, Camaldoli Hospital, Via Antonio Cinque 93-95, Naples, Italy
  • 3Neurology-Stroke Unit, AORN 'Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano' Hospital, Via Ferdinando Palasciano, Caserta, Italy

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Background Available evidence on effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive and affective symptoms in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and the early stages of dementia is encouraging but still limited. Multifocal high-definition brain stimulation could detain the potential of improving these symptoms by modulating the activity of a fronto-temporal network. Moreover, combined electrophysiological measures might contribute monitoring the underlying neurophysiological effects. In this study protocol an innovative and integrated intervention for patients with MCI and early-stage dementia will be proposed, also exploring the modulatory role of some specific variables such as education and cognitive reserve. Method Sixty patients with MCI and early-stage dementia will be enrolled in a crossover double-blind randomised controlled trial utilising an integrated intervention combining conventional cognitive treatment with multifocal brain stimulation and electrophysiological recordings. A battery of standardised neuropsychological tests will be employed at several time points to monitor changes, and inferential statistics will identify the changes specifically associated with the intervention. Regression analyses will be performed to ascertain the extent to which education and cognitive reserve scores may influence intervention outcomes. Analysis of electrophysiological data will contribute characterising responders to treatment. Discussion The project will contribute to a transformation in the landscape of non-pharmacological interventions for MCI and dementia, integrating diverse techniques and levels of analysis within a unified, comprehensive approach.

Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Early-stage dementia, non invasive brain stimulation, Electrophysiology, Cognitive Reserve

Received: 04 Apr 2025; Accepted: 28 May 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Catalano, Sagliano, Visciglio, Russo, Miniello, Trojano and Panico. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Francesco Panico, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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