Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Cognition in Patients Treated for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Resumo

This study investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the cognition of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) who underwent cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery. Five participants, aged between 60 and 80 years, were assessed using neuropsychological instruments at three time points: before, three days after, and thirty days after the tDCS intervention. The results demonstrated significant cognitive improvements in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE), both of which assess global cognitive functions. In contrast, instruments targeting specific neuropsychological domains, such as the Stroop Test and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), did not show statistically significant differences. The discrepancy in the results highlights the sensitivity of broad cognitive assessments in detecting generalized cognitive changes promoted by the intervention. These findings suggest that tDCS is a promising approach for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with NPH, while emphasizing the need for future studies with larger sample sizes.