You are viewing a javascript disabled version of the site. Please enable Javascript for this site to function properly.
Go to headerGo to navigationGo to searchGo to contentsGo to footer
In content section. Select this link to jump to navigation

Non-invasive alternating current stimulation induces recovery from stroke

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Fedorov, Anton | Chibisova, Yulia | Szymaszek, Aneta; | Alexandrov, Mikhail | Gall, Carolin | Sabel, Bernhard A.

Affiliations: Institute of Medical Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str., 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany | Mechnikov Medical Academy, Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Piskarevsky pr., 47, Saint-Petersburg, Russia | Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Laboratory of Neuropsychology, 3 Pasteur St., Warsaw, Poland

Note: [] Corresponding author: Bernhard A. Sabel, PhD, Institute of Medical Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Tel.: +49 391 672 1800; Fax: +49 391 672 1803; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Stroke, alternating current stimulation, recovery, aphasia, restoration

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-2010-0580

Journal: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 825-833, 2010

Received 7 December 2010
|
Accepted 7 December 2010
|
Published: 2010
Get PDF

Abstract

Background: Recovery of post-stroke deficits can be achieved by modulating neuroplasticity with non-invasive brain stimulation. To evaluate potential effects of repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) on stroke recovery we carried out a randomized, drug-controlled clinical trial.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients that had suffered ischemic stroke 21.4 months earlier were randomly assigned to either group D (n=30) receiving conventional drug therapy, group ACS (n=32) treated for 12 days with rtACS, or group D/ACS (n=36) receiving combined drug therapy/rtACS. Stroke severity level (SSL) was assessed by the NIH-NINDS stroke scale before and after treatment and at a 1-month follow-up to evaluate motor impairments (weakness, ataxia), sensory loss, visual field defects, and cortical deficits (aphasia, neglect). At each time point standard EEG recordings (10–20 system) were conducted.

Results: Before therapy SSL was moderate (9.18 ± 0.78) without significant group difference (F =0.86, p=0.43). After 12 days of treatment, SSLs of groups ACS and D/ACS significantly improved by 22.5% and 25.1% over baseline, respectively, with no such change in the control group D (+3%). SSL improvements were mainly due to recovery of motor, sensory, and speech functions. After 1-month follow-up, an additional improvement of 9.7% and 9.4% was seen for the group ACS and D/ACS which led to a total change of +32.3% and +34.7% over baseline. EEG recordings revealed greater interhemispheric synchrony between both temporal lobes which were positively correlated with clinical outcome.

Conclusions: Non-invasive rtACS applied to post-stroke patients can modulate brain plasticity and induce recovery from neurological deficits long after the early post lesion recovery is over.

Show more