Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41781456›Full record

ReviewNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026

A meta-analysis of the effect of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques on improving cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Jiarong Wen, Mei Li, Junpeng Xu, Yuxiang Sun, Xianchuang Chen, Zhiqi Mao

Abstract readNetwork Meta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  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
    Pooled it
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

6 authors.

Jiarong WenGraduate School, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, 067000, Hebei, China.
Mei LiDepartment of Neurosurgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100038, China.
Junpeng XuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Neuromedicine Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Yuxiang SunHebei University, Baoding, 071000, Hebei, China.
Xianchuang ChenGraduate School, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, 067000, Hebei, China.
Zhiqi MaoDepartment of Neurosurgery, Neuromedicine Center, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China. markmaoqi@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8535-4531

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China 2021ZD0200407
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques in improving global cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Non-invasive brain stimulation includes repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and to compare the efficacy of the three.

methodsSearches were conducted in five databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus. We searched these databases for randomized controlled trials on non-invasive neuromodulation techniques treatment for AD and MCI up to April 10, 2025, to conduct meta-analyses and network meta-analyses. The primary outcome measures were the scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog). PROSPERO registration: CRD420251120672.

resultsThis study included 77 articles. Compared with the control group, rTMS, tACS, and tDCS can all improve the overall cognitive function of participants. The results of the meta-analysis showed that rTMS and tDCS can increase MMSE and MoCA scores and decrease ADAS-cog scores (p < 0.05). Network meta-analysis reveals tDCS is more effective than rTMS on MMSE and MoCA, but less effective on ADAS-cog.

conclusionsrTMS, tACS, and tDCS can all improve the overall cognitive function of patients with AD and MCI, and are effective and safe treatment methods. When assessed using the MMSE and MoCA scales, the results show that the tDCS is superior to rTMS.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitionCognitive DysfunctionTranscranial Direct Current StimulationTranscranial Magnetic StimulationCognitive EnhancementHumansAlzheimer's diseaseCognitive functionMeta-analysisRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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.