Still insufficient support for the effectiveness of mild brain stimulation as an add-on treatment

What is it about?

Mild brain stimulation recently received a lot of attention as a promising supplementary treatment method for cognitive disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia. By using electrodes on the head, mild electric currents are directed through the brain. Especially in combination with cognitive training – a frequently applied form of therapy involving activities like memory games on the computer – brain stimulation has the potential to enhance the absorption of new information and the learning of new things. We evaluated the effectiveness of combining cognitive training and mild brain stimulation by combining data from previous studies in a meta-analysis. We systematically reviewed 72 previously conducted studies and did not find indications of an additional effect of brain stimulation on top of cognitive training. There were slight improvements in cognitive functioning immediately after the training, but these did not persist in the long term. There was no evidence for improvement of daily functioning or symptoms of the participants. This may imply that adding brain stimulation as a supplementary treatment simply does not work. However, the existing research on mild brain stimulation has significant methodological shortcomings. Therefore, more extensive, and better-designed research is essential to be able to determine whether it is meaningful to implement mild brain stimulation in practice for individuals with cognitive disorders.

Featured Image

Photo by Ramón Salinero on Unsplash

Photo by Ramón Salinero on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is timely because it addresses a growing interest in non-invasive treatments for brain health. Understanding whether mild brain stimulation can enhance standard cognitive training could lead to breakthroughs in treating conditions like memory loss or learning difficulties. While previous research often suggests that combining mild brain stimulation with cognitive training shows promise, this review of existing studies shows that it is still unclear if this combination is more effective than cognitive exercises alone. Specifically, the results of this review highlight a need to focus on how this approach could positively impact patients in their daily lives.

Perspectives