Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41953054›Full record

ArticleMilitary Medical Research2026

tDCS improves early Alzheimer's disease by synaptic vesicle fusion and release.

Yue-Yang Zhuang, Jia-Min Yan, Tie-Cheng Wu, Wen-Shan Xu, Bao Wu, Xi Xie, Wen-Ju Wang, Hua-Wei Lin, Jia-Wei Jian, Jun-Zi Wang and 13 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Military Medical Research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

23 authors.

Yue-Yang ZhuangThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Jia-Min YanThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Tie-Cheng WuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Wen-Shan XuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Bao WuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Xi XieThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Wen-Ju WangThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Hua-Wei LinThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Jia-Wei JianThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Jun-Zi WangThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Tao JiangThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Li-Ming ChenThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Yu-Xi QiuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Zhong-Yi HuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Yi-Hui ZhouThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Ting YangThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Min-Guang YangThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Jing-Fang ZhuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Jing TaoThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Li-Dian ChenThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
Wei-Guang LiState Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Kai YanChildren Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China.
Wei-Lin LiuThe Institute of Rehabilitation Industry, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Working memory deficits, one of the earliest hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), are closely linked to abnormal neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy, has been shown to ameliorate early AD working memory deficits by modulating excitatory activity in the DLPFC, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Methods: This investigation was structured around 3 experimental phases. We initially applied tDCS to stimulate the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) of transgenic mice with 5 familial AD (5×FAD) 5 d per week for 4 weeks. Subsequently, we employed optogenetic (Opt) techniques to modulate left PFC glutamatergic neurons. Finally, we inhibited soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) expression in the left PFC to elucidate the essential function of SNARE complex assembly with chaperone molecules in orchestrating synaptic vesicle release. Results: tDCS treatment improved working memory deficits in early-stage AD mice. This was accompanied by increased cerebral blood flow, enhanced neuronal excitability, amelioration of neurochemical metabolic disorders, and reduced amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposition in the left PFC. Opt stimulation of PFC glutamatergic neurons similarly improved working memory, indicating the association between tDCS's therapeutic effects and synaptic plasticity of excitatory neurons. Crucially, tDCS facilitated synaptic vesicle fusion and release, evidenced by increased vesicle numbers, enhanced release probability, improved synaptic transmission efficacy, and upregulation of the SNARE complex, Snap25, and Syt1. Inhibiting SNARE expression in the left PFC attenuated the tDCS-induced improvements in synaptic vesicle release and working memory. Conclusion: These findings collectively demonstrate that left PFC-targeted tDCS modulates interactions between the SNARE complex and chaperone molecules, thereby promoting synaptic vesicle fusion and release. This mechanism underlies the amelioration of early AD-like working memory impairment by tDCS.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseSynaptic VesiclesTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalHumansMaleMemory, Short-TermMiceMice, TransgenicPrefrontal CortexDorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)Glutamatergic neuronsSynaptic vesicle transportTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)Working memory

Identifiers

PMID41953054
PMCPMC13054575

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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.