Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42021325›Full record

ArticleTrials2026

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Michael Chih Chien Kuo, Gim Hoon Davynn Tan, Xiaoling Hu, Mabel Yin Chun Yau, Chi Kong Yip

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05584748 (Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation), which is not on this 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.

NCT05584748 naunknown statusnot on this map

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Cognition in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorTung Wah CollegeRan2023 to 2026Enrolled48ConditionsMild Cognitive ImpairmentArmstranscranial direct current stimulation
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

5 authors.

Michael Chih Chien KuoSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Kowloon, Hong Kong. mcckuo@eduhk.hk.
Gim Hoon Davynn TanDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Xiaoling HuDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Mabel Yin Chun YauSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Chi Kong YipSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Funding

University Grants Committee UGC/FDS17/M06/22
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia. People with MCI have a higher risk of developing dementia than normal healthy people. Improving their cognitive functions may delay dementia onset. The aim of this project is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognition in adults with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS/

designForty-eight MCI participants will be recruited from four local day centers for the elderly and assigned to experimental or control groups randomly in a 1:1 ratio. Participants and assessors are blinded to their group assignment. The experiment will consist of pre- and post-assessments and a 1-month follow-up assessment. Participants will receive 8 sessions (2×/week for 4 weeks) of tDCS intervention (either real or sham, 20 min per session). Primary outcome measures will include digit span test, color trail test, verbal fluency, Chinese version of the Verbal Learning Test, and the Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Participants will also have their brain waves recorded while completing a computer memory task at each assessment point. The task will require them to study and memorize certain Chinese characters and take a recognition memory test. Secondary outcomes include scores from the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Modified Barthel Index. DISCUSSION: The study addresses the shortcomings in previous studies and investigates multiple domains of cognition (e.g., attention, memory, executive function), the sustainability of the effects, and includes electroencephalography as an outcome measure with application to people with MCI. The results of this proposed project are expected to have an impact on the long-term care and rehabilitation of older and clinical populations and to increase general knowledge about tDCS and related cognitive enhancement in MCI.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05584748 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05584748 ). Registered on October 10, 2022.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive DysfunctionTranscranial Direct Current StimulationAgedAge FactorsBrain WavesElectroencephalographyFemaleHumansMaleMemoryMental Status and Dementia TestsMulticenter Studies as TopicNeuropsychological TestsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTime FactorsBrain stimulationEEGMild cognitive impairmentTranscranial direct current simulation

Identifiers

PMID42021325
PMCPMC13123212

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Registered trials

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.