Ferrazzano Gina, Maccarrone Davide, Guerra Andrea, Collura Angelo, Satriano Federica, Fratino Mariangela, Ievolella Fabrizio, Belvisi Daniele, Amato Maria Pia, Centonze Diego, Altieri Marta, Conte Antonella, Leodori Giorgio
Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Mult Scler. 2025 May;31(6):728-739. doi: 10.1177/13524585251333575. Epub 2025 Apr 26.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) often causes impairment in working memory (WM), information processing speed (IPS), and verbal memory (VM). These deficits are linked to disrupted neural oscillatory activity. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which modulates cortical oscillations, may hold promise for treating cognitive impairment in MS.
To evaluate online and offline effects of gamma (γ)-tACS on WM, IPS, and VM while assessing changes in brain rhythms using electroencephalography (EEG).
Thirty-six MS patients with single-domain impairment in WM (12), IPS (13), or VM (11) underwent γ-tACS and sham-tACS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (WM, IPS) or precuneus (VM). Cognitive performance was assessed pre-tACS (T0), during (T1), and post-tACS (T2) using the Digit Span Backward (DSBW) for WM, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) for IPS, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) for VM. EEG was recorded at T0 and T2 to analyze local power spectral density and local-to-global connectivity.
DSBW, SDMT, and RAVLT scores transiently improved during γ-tACS and not during sham. IPS-impaired patients showed a reduction in spectral power across all frequency bands, at the stimulation site, post-DLPFC γ-tACS.
γ-tACS briefly improves WM, IPS, and VM in MS patients, warranting further trials of this non-invasive intervention.
多发性硬化症（MS）常导致工作记忆（WM）、信息处理速度（IPS）和言语记忆（VM）受损。这些缺陷与神经振荡活动紊乱有关。经颅交流电刺激（tACS）可调节皮层振荡，可能有望治疗MS中的认知障碍。
评估γ-tACS对WM、IPS和VM的在线和离线效应，同时使用脑电图（EEG）评估脑节律变化。
36例在WM（12例）、IPS（13例）或VM（11例）方面存在单领域损害的MS患者，在左侧背外侧前额叶皮层（DLPFC）（WM、IPS）或楔前叶（VM）接受γ-tACS和假tACS。在tACS前（T0）、期间（T1）和后（T2），使用数字倒背广度（DSBW）评估WM、符号数字模式测验（SDMT）评估IPS、雷伊听觉词语学习测验（RAVLT）评估VM。在T0和T2记录EEG，以分析局部功率谱密度和局部与全局连通性。
γ-tACS期间DSBW、SDMT和RAVLT分数短暂改善，假刺激期间无改善。IPS受损患者在DLPFC γ-tACS后，刺激部位所有频段的频谱功率降低。
γ-tACS可短暂改善MS患者的WM、IPS和VM，值得对这种非侵入性干预进行进一步试验。
