Factors influencing the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease
- Mandy
- February 02, 2024
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Transcranial magnetic encephalopathyphysiological therapy (rTMS) is a safe, non-invasive intervention technology
that has achieved certain results in improving the cognitive function of
patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The differences in efficacy of
different rTMS treatment plans may be related to factors such as stimulation
frequency, mode, site, maintenance time, intensity, and focusing ability.
Research shows that high-frequency rTMS is more effective than low-frequency
rTMS; indirect theta burst stimulation is as effective as traditional rTMS, but
each treatment time is shorter and patient compliance is improved; stimulating
damaged brain areas or related networks in AD patients can improve efficacy;
short-term reinforcement Combining treatment with long-term maintenance
treatment can maintain the therapeutic effect; dynamically adjusting the
stimulation intensity according to the degree of cognitive impairment can
improve the therapeutic effect; the focusing ability of rTMS can be solved
through technologies such as magnetic resonance functional connection methods.
This article analyzes the above influencing factors to provide ideas for the
design of future clinical programs for rTMS treatment of AD.
AD is a neurodegenerative disease with
insidious onset and progressive development. The main feature is early memory
loss. As the disease progresses, additional impairments in two or more
cognitive domains develop, such as executive function and attention. Strength,
language, social cognition and judgment, psychomotor speed, visual operation or
visuospatial ability seriously affect an individual's daily independence and
quality of life, and bring heavy economic and psychological burdens to society
and families.
Up to now, the research and development of new
AD drugs have almost all ended in failure, and the use of traditional drugs has
many limitations. Therefore, more and more researchers are beginning to explore
non-drug treatments.
Transcranial magnetic encephalopathyphysiological therapy (rTMS), as a non-drug treatment for AD, has achieved good
results in improving the cognitive function and memory of AD patients. Previous
studies have shown that rTMS with a frequency of 10~20 Hz and an intensity of
90%~120% rMT stimulates the DLPFC, precuneus, left parietal lobe and other
brain areas of AD patients for 1~6 weeks, which can improve the cognitive
function of AD patients. Knowledge function. And the drug effect can be
maintained for a period of time; the efficacy of high frequency is better than
that of low frequency, and the efficacy of rTMS at higher frequencies (such as
40 Hz) can be further explored; iTBS has the advantages of short treatment time
and low cost, and the difference in efficacy between iTBS and rTMS can be
Further research; the longer the stimulation, the longer lasting the effects.
As rTMS treatment equipment gradually becomes available for home use,
short-term intensive treatment combined with long-term maintenance treatment
has broad prospects; the optimal stimulation intensity is related to the
patient's cognitive function. In the future, the stimulation intensity can be
dynamically adjusted according to changes in the degree of cognitive impairment
of patients, and the focusing ability of rTMS can be solved based on
technologies such as magnetic resonance functional connection methods to
provide personalized and effective stimulation for AD brain areas or related
networks that are damaged.
Due to differences in cerebral cortical
activity, disease severity, clinical manifestations, comorbid physical
diseases, genetics and other factors among different AD patients, the clinical
efficacy varies significantly. Relevant factors should be comprehensively
analyzed and established through information technology such as artificial
intelligence. A model for implementing an individualized treatment plan. It is
believed that with the continuous deepening of basic research and clinical
application, rTMS will bring good news to AD patients.