Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37028756›Full record

ReviewBrain stimulation

The impact of gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on cognitive and memory processes in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease: A literature review.

N R Nissim, D V H Pham, T Poddar, E Blutt, R H Hamilton

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
9.5field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
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

43 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 77 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation on cognitive function in older adults: 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 · 2025
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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

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

N R NissimLaboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Einstein Medical Center, Elkins Park, PA, USA. Electronic address: Nicole.Nissim@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
D V H PhamLaboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
T PoddarLaboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
E BluttLaboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
R H HamiltonLaboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA; Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Einstein Medical Center, Elkins Park, PA, USA. Electronic address: Roy.Hamilton@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
University of Pennsylvania · USEinstein Medical Center Philadelphia · US

Funding

Postdoctoral Training in Translational Neurorehabilitation ResearchT32HD071844 · NICHD · ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK · PI WHYTE, JOHN · 2013 to 2022
$2.2M
NICHD NIH HHS T32 HD071844
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)-a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that modulates cortical oscillations through entrainment-has been demonstrated to alter oscillatory activity and enhance cognition in healthy adults. TACS is being explored as a tool to improve cognition and memory in patient populations with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

objectiveTo review the growing body of literature and current findings obtained from the application of tACS in patients with MCI or AD, highlighting the effects of gamma tACS on brain function, memory, and cognition. Evidence on the use of brain stimulation in animal models of AD is also discussed. Important parameters of stimulation are underscored for consideration in protocols that aim to apply tACS as a therapeutic tool in patients with MCI/AD.

findingsThe application of gamma tACS has shown promising results in the improvement of cognitive and memory processes that are impacted in patients with MCI/AD. These data demonstrate the potential for tACS as an interventional stand-alone tool or alongside pharmacological and/or other behavioral interventions in MCI/AD.

conclusionsWhile the use of tACS in MCI/AD has evidenced encouraging results, the effects of this stimulation technique on brain function and pathophysiology in MCI/AD remains to be fully determined. This review explores the literature and highlights the need for continued research on tACS as a tool to alter the course of the disease by reinstating oscillatory activity, improving cognitive and memory processing, delaying disease progression, and remediating cognitive abilities in patients with MCI/AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitive DysfunctionTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAnimalsBrainCognition

Identifiers

PMID37028756
PMCPMC10862495
OpenAlexW4362603410

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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 OpenQuestion graph.