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Neurodegenerative Cognitive Disorders

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

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Abstract

Neurodegenerative cognitive disorders have a huge impact on our societies, especially as the general population continues to grow older. These disorders include various dementias including Alzheimer’s dementia as the most common one. To date no effective treatments have been identified. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been tested for its effects in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, especially patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. In general, studies show a positive effect on cognition with good tolerability. However, studies to date are limited by small sample sizes, large variability in parameters of stimulation, and lack of long-term interventions and assessments. Future studies need to address these limitations. Further, future research could focus on combining tDCS with other cognitive enhancing interventions, more personalization of stimulation using modeling approaches, and aiming at preventing cognitive decline and cognitive manifestation of neurodegenerative disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Room 6312, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6J 1HA

    Tarek K. Rajji M.D., F.R.C.P.C.

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  1. Tarek K. Rajji M.D., F.R.C.P.C.
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Correspondence to Tarek K. Rajji M.D., F.R.C.P.C. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation Department and Institute of Psychiatry Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University Hospital and Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    André Brunoni

  2. Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environments and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany

    Michael Nitsche

  3. School of Psychiatry Black Dog Institute & St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Colleen Loo

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Rajji, T.K. (2016). Neurodegenerative Cognitive Disorders. In: Brunoni, A., Nitsche, M., Loo, C. (eds) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33967-2_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33967-2_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33965-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33967-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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