Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31529691›Full record

Trial reportAnnals of clinical and translational neurology2019

Randomized controlled trial of TDCS on cognition in 201 seniors with mild neurocognitive disorder.

Hanna Lu, Sandra Sau Man Chan, Wai Chi Chan, Cuichan Lin, Calvin Pak Wing Cheng, Lam Linda Chiu Wa

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 53 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
53citing papers in PubMed, 9 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

53 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. Transcranial direct current stimulation for global cognition in Alzheimer's disease: a systemic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2024
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  20. 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

6 authors.

Hanna LuDepartment of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9090-258X
Sandra Sau Man ChanDepartment of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Wai Chi ChanDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Cuichan LinDepartment of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Calvin Pak Wing ChengDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Lam Linda Chiu WaDepartment of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Funding

General Research Fund of Research Grant Council of Hong Kong GRF14108214
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo examine the efficacy and safety of combined transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and working memory training (WMT) in enhancing the cognitive functions for individuals with mild neurocognitive disorder due to AD (NCD-AD).

methodsIn this double-blind, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT), 201 patients with NCD-AD were randomly assigned for a 4-week intervention of either a combination of tDCS and WMT, sham tDCS and WMT, or tDCS and control cognitive training (CCT). Global cognition and domain-specific cognitive function were assessed before and after the intervention with Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), category verbal fluency test, logical memory, digit, and visual span tests.

resultsStudy participants did not show intervention group differences in baseline demographics, or cognitive characteristics (ANOVA). Cognitive enhancement was found across three groups after 4 weeks intervention. Combined tDCS-WMT group showed significantly greater improvement compared with single-modality groups in delayed recall (P = 0.043, η

interpretationtDCS or WMT could be a safe, feasible, and effective intervention for individuals with NCD-AD. A combination of tDCS and WMT presents greater cognitive enhancement, which may highlight the potential synergistic effects of combined modality intervention on cognition.

Indexed as

Cognitive RemediationMemory, Short-TermOutcome and Process Assessment, Health CareTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAgedAged, 80 and overAlzheimer DiseaseCognitive DysfunctionCombined Modality TherapyDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMalePlacebosPlacebos

Identifiers

PMID31529691
PMCPMC6801176

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.