Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36698219›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's research & therapy2023

The beneficial effect on cognition of noninvasive brain stimulation intervention in patients with dementia: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ping-Tao Tseng, Yen-Wen Chen, Bing-Yan Zeng, Bing-Syuan Zeng, Chao-Ming Hung, Cheuk-Kwan Sun, Yu-Shian Cheng, Brendon Stubbs, Andre F Carvalho, Andre R Brunoni and 10 more

Open access · goldAbstract readNetwork Meta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
3.6field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Efficacy of transcranial alternating current stimulation on cognitive function in patients with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
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  9. A meta-analysis of the effect of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques on improving cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors at 14 institutions in 4 countries.

Ping-Tao Tseng *Prospect Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology & Neurology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Yen-Wen Chen *Prospect Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology & Neurology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Bing-Yan Zeng *Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Dachang Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Bing-Syuan Zeng *Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chao-Ming Hung *Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Cheuk-Kwan SunDepartment of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yu-Shian ChengDepartment of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Brendon StubbsDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Andre F CarvalhoInnovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment (IMPACT) Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Andre R BrunoniService of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, National Institute of Biomarkers in Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina da USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Kuan-Pin SuDepartment of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yu-Kang TuInstitute of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yi-Cheng WuDepartment of Sports Medicine, Landseed International Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Tien-Yu ChenDepartment of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pao-Yen LinDepartment of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chih-Sung LiangDepartment of Psychiatry, Beitou Branch, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chih-Wei HsuDepartment of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Che-Sheng ChuDepartment of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Mein-Woei SuenDepartment of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Cheng-Ta LiDivision of Community & Rehabilitation Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shipai Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, 11267, Taiwan. on5083@msn.com.
I-Shou University · TWAsia University · TWNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung University · TWChang Gung University · TWChina Medical University · TWDeakin University · AUE-Da Hospital · TWFundação Faculdade de Medicina · BRKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · TWKaohsiung Veterans General Hospital · TWKing's College London · GBLandseed Hospital · TWNational Taiwan University Hospital · TWTri-Service General Hospital · TW

Funding

Department of Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDementia [i.e., Alzheimer disease (AD)], the most common neurodegenerative disease, causes profound negative impacts on executive function and quality of life. Available pharmacological treatments often fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, which focally modify cortical function and enhance synaptic long-term potentiation, are potentially beneficial for the cognition in patients with AD. The aim of the current network meta-analysis (NMA) was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different NIBS interventions in patients with AD through NMA.

methodsOnly randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining NIBS interventions in patients with AD had been included. All NMA procedures were performed under the frequentist model. The primary and secondary outcomes were changes in cognitive function and quality of life, respectively.

resultsNineteen RCTs (639 participants) were included. The mean treatment and follow-up durations were 5.7 and 10.5 weeks, respectively. The combination of cathodal tDCS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anodal tDCS over the right supraorbital region (c-tDCS-F3 + a-tDCS-Fp2) was associated with a significant beneficial effect on cognition compared with sham controls (standardized mean difference=2.43, 95% confidence interval=0.61-4.26, n=12 and 11). It was also associated with the greatest beneficial effect on cognition among all the investigated NIBS approaches. All the methods were well tolerated with regard to the safety profile, as reflected in the rates of adverse events or local discomfort, as well as acceptability, as indicated by dropout rate.

conclusionsThe present findings provide evidence of the benefits of NIBS, especially tDCS, for beneficial effect on cognition in patients with AD. However, because of few studies included, this effect was not replicated yet in the other studies. Therefore, future larger-scale and longer follow-up duration RCTs should be warranted.

trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42020209516. The current study had been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center (TSGHIRB No. B-109-29).

Indexed as

DementiaTranscranial Direct Current StimulationBrainCognitionHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAlzheimer’s diseaseCognitionDementiaNeuropathologyPrimary care

Identifiers

PMID36698219
PMCPMC9875424
OpenAlexW4317888724

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.