SynthesisFrontiers in aging neuroscience2026
Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on gait and balance under dual-task conditions in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on gait and balance outcomes measured under dual-task (DT) conditions in older adults. Methods: Following PRISMA guidance, four databases were searched through October 13, 2025. Random-effects meta-analyses used Hedges' Results: Fifteen studies involving 385 participants were included, and 12 contributed to quantitative synthesis. The forest plots present exploratory mixed-population estimates: dual-task gait speed was not significantly improved (Hedges' Conclusion: In healthy older adults, tDCS may improve gait speed and reduce its dual-task cost, but the gait-speed inference depends on the assumed crossover correlation and both estimates are based on only two studies. Evidence for other gait, variability, mobility, and standing-balance outcomes was inconclusive or could not be pooled within the healthy population. Evidence regarding falls, long-term benefit, and safety remains insufficient. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251206965, PROSPERO Unique Identifier: CRD420251206965.
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