rTMS Improves Cognitive Function and Brain Network Connectivity in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease
Author:
Affiliation:

1)State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China;2)School of Health Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China;3)School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China;4)Tianjin Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetic Technology and Intelligent Health, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China;5)Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics and Neuroengineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China;6.6)Department of Neurology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin 300202, China

Clc Number:

Fund Project:

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC2402200), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (E2021202222, F2024202085), the Funds for International Cooperation and Exchange of The National Natural Science Foundation of China (52320105008), Tianjin Health Science and Technology Program of China (TJWJ2022MS032), and State Key Laboratory of Reliability and Intelligence of Electrical Equipment of Hebei University of Technology of China (EERI_OY2021009).

  • Article
  • |
  • Figures
  • |
  • Metrics
  • |
  • Reference
  • |
  • Related
  • |
  • Cited by
  • |
  • Materials
  • |
  • Comments
    Abstract:

    Objective Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing neurocognitive performance in Alzheimer"s disease (AD), but the neurobiological mechanisms linking synaptic pathology, neural oscillatory dynamics, and brain network reorganization remain unclear. This investigation seeks to systematically evaluate the therapeutic potential of rTMS as a non-invasive neuromodulatory intervention through a multimodal framework integrating clinical assessments, molecular profiling, and neurophysiological monitoring.Methods In this prospective double-blind trial, 12 AD patients underwent a 14-day protocol of 20 Hz rTMS, with comprehensive multimodal assessments performed pre- and post-intervention. Cognitive functioning was quantified using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), while daily living capacities and neuropsychiatric profiles were respectively evaluated through the activities of daily living (ADL) scale and combined neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI)-Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD). Peripheral blood biomarkers, specifically Aβ1-40 and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), were analyzed to investigate the effects of TMS on molecular metabolism. Spectral power analysis was employed to investigate TMS-induced modulations of neural rhythms in AD patients, while brain network analyses incorporating topological properties were conducted to examine stimulus-driven network reorganization. Furthermore, systematic assessment of correlations between cognitive scale scores, blood biomarkers, and network characteristics was performed to elucidate cross-modal therapeutic associations.Results Clinically, MMSE and MoCA scores improved significantly (P<0.05). Biomarker showed that Aβ1-40 level increased (P<0.05), contrasting with p-tau181 reduction (P<0.05). Moreover, the levels of Aβ1-40 were positively correlated with MMSE and MOCA scores. Significant post-intervention alterations were observed in oscillatory power, with marked reductions in delta (P<0.05) and theta bands (P<0.05), contrasted by gamma band power elevation (P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in alpha and beta band EEG powers (P>0.05). Network analysis revealed frequency-specific reorganization: clustering coefficients were significantly enhanced in delta, theta, and alpha bands (P<0.05), while global efficiency improvement was exclusively detected in the delta band (P<0.05). The alpha band demonstrated concurrent increases in average nodal degree (P<0.05) and characteristic path length reduction (P<0.05). Further research findings indicate that the changes in the clinical scale HAMD scores before and after rTMS stimulation are negatively correlated with the changes in the blood biomarkers Aβ1-40 and p-tau181. Additionally, the changes in the clinical scales MMSE and MoCA scores are negatively correlated with the changes in the node degree of the alpha frequency band and negatively correlated with the clustering coefficient of the delta frequency band. However, the changes in MMSE scores are positively correlated with the changes in global efficiency of both the delta and alpha frequency bands.Conclusion 20 Hz rTMS targeting dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) significantly improves cognitive function and enhances the metabolic clearance of β-amyloid and tau proteins in AD patients. This neurotherapeutic effect is mechanistically associated with rTMS-mediated frequency-selective neuromodulation, which enhances the connectivity of oscillatory networks through improved neuronal synchronization and optimized topological organization of functional brain networks. These findings not only support the efficacy of rTMS as an adjunctive therapy for AD but also underscore the importance of employing multiple assessment methods—including clinical scales, blood biomarkers, and EEG-in understanding and monitoring the progression of AD. This research provides a significant theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for further exploration of rTMS applications in AD treatment.

    Reference
    Related
    Cited by
Get Citation

XU Gui-Zhi, LIN Lin, GUO Miao-Miao, WANG Tian, GAO Jiao-Jiao, JI Yong, WANG Pan. rTMS Improves Cognitive Function and Brain Network Connectivity in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease[J]. Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics,,():

Copy
Share
Article Metrics
  • Abstract:
  • PDF:
  • HTML:
  • Cited by:
History
  • Received:January 09,2025
  • Revised:May 27,2025
  • Accepted:May 28,2025
  • Online: May 28,2025
  • Published: