tDCS reduces depression and state anxiety symptoms in older adults from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT)

Hanna K. Hausman; Gene E. Alexander; Ronald Cohen; Michael Marsiske; Steven T. DeKosky; Georg A. Hishaw; Andrew O'Shea; Jessica N. Kraft; Yunfeng Dai; Samuel Wu; Adam J. Woods

Brain Stimulation (Mar 2024)

tDCS reduces depression and state anxiety symptoms in older adults from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT)

Hanna K. Hausman,
Gene E. Alexander,
Ronald Cohen,
Michael Marsiske,
Steven T. DeKosky,
Georg A. Hishaw,
Andrew O'Shea,
Jessica N. Kraft,
Yunfeng Dai,
Samuel Wu,
Adam J. Woods

Affiliations

Hanna K. Hausman: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Gene E. Alexander: Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona and Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Consortium, Tucson, AZ, USA; Brain Imaging, Behavior and Aging Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Ronald Cohen: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Michael Marsiske: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Steven T. DeKosky: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Georg A. Hishaw: Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona and Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Consortium, Tucson, AZ, USA
Andrew O'Shea: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Jessica N. Kraft: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Yunfeng Dai: Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Samuel Wu: Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Adam J. Woods: Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Corresponding author. 1249 Center Drive, C2-018, Suite B, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17, no. 2
pp. 283 – 311

Abstract

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Background: Pharmacological interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults often have significant side effects, presenting the need for more tolerable alternatives. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for depression in clinical populations. However, its effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, particularly in older adults from the general public, are understudied. Objective: We conducted a secondary analysis of the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults (ACT) trial to assess tDCS efficacy in reducing psychological symptoms in older adults. We hypothesized that active stimulation would yield greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention and at the one-year follow-up. We also explored tDCS effects in subgroups characterized by baseline symptom severity. Methods: A sample of 378 older adults recruited from the community completed a 12-week tDCS intervention with cognitive or education training. Electrodes were placed at F3/F4, and participants received active or sham tDCS during training sessions. We assessed the association between tDCS group and changes in depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety from baseline to post-intervention and one-year controlling for covariates. Results: The active tDCS group demonstrated greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention, particularly in individuals with mild depression and moderate/severe state anxiety at baseline. Furthermore, the active tDCS group with moderate/severe state anxiety maintained greater symptom reductions at one-year. Conclusions: tDCS effectively reduced depression and state anxiety symptoms in a large sample of older adults. These findings highlight the importance of considering symptom severity when identifying those who may benefit most from this intervention.

Published in Brain Stimulation

ISSN: 1935-861X (Print); 1876-4754 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/brain-stimulation

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