Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41507453›Full record

SynthesisNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026

Efficacy and safety of tACS in older adults with cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Shenhong Ma, Qiaohua Han, Di Zhang, Heling Wang, Weisheng Zhuang, Wanyue Li, Ying Li, Beibei Lei, Yage Wang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Efficacy of transcranial alternating current stimulation on cognitive function in patients with dementia: 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 · 2026
    Pooled it
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

9 authors.

Shenhong MaSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Qiaohua HanSchool of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China.
Di ZhangSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Heling WangSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Weisheng ZhuangSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China. zhuang20062634@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8648-5649
Wanyue LiDepartment of Rehabilitation, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
Ying LiDepartment of Rehabilitation, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
Beibei LeiSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Yage WangSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.

Funding

Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Project 232102310266
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo assess the safety and effectiveness of tACS as a therapeutic intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment. MATERIALS AND

methodsFrom the time of library construction until March 3, 2025, we conducted a comprehensive search of the databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Additionally, we manually examined the references in the articles. The outcome indicators were cognitive function, which included memory function, attention, overall cognition, as well as safety.

results6 publications with a total of 888 subjects were included. The tACS group did better at treating cognitive impairment, especially memory problems (SMD = 0.7, 95% Cl = 0.29 to 1.12, I2 = 52%, P = 0.0009) and overall cognition (SMD = 1.97, 95% Cl = -0.87 to 3.06, I2 = 0%, P = 0.0004). However, it did not have good efficacy on attention. Furthermore, tACS was a very safe treatment.

conclusionstACS is very effective in the treatment of older adults with cognitive impairment, especially for memory function and overall cognition. In addition, tACS is a very safe treatment. However, in the future, there is still a need for many high-quality clinical studies on tACS for cognitive impairment.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAgedHumansCognitive impairmentOlder adultsTranscranial alternating current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41507453

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.