Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to Improve the Cognitive Functions in Older Adults

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to Improve the Cognitive Functions in Older Adults

Recent evidence has shown that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was effective in improving the cognitive function in healthy adult and people with dementia. However, lacking of evidence investigated the effect of TENS in improving the cognitive function and reversing the occurrence of dementia during the period of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is the crucial period to prevent the significant loss of cognition function. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the optimal TENS treatment protocol in improving the cognitive function in older adults with MCI.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of 3 intervention protocols (1) In the T1 TENS group, the subject will receive TENS on T1 spine. (2) In the vagus nerve TENS group, the subject will receive TENS on the concha of left outer ear. (3) In the sham stimulation group, the subject will receive sham stimulation on the T1 spine, in improving the cognitive function in older adults with MCI.

Inclusion Criteria:

Should fulfil the diagnosis criteria of MCI (Albert et al., 2011):

1. Concern regarding a change in cognition
2. Impairment in one or more cognitive domains
3. Preservation of independence in functional abilities
4. no signs of dementia were to be present and confirmed by the medical staff and medical records.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. If their medical records reported a history of either psychiatric disorder, alcoholism, cerebral trauma, cerebrovascular disease, hydrocephalus, neoplasm, epilepsy, disturbances of consciousness, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or focal brain disorders;
2. Having active implants, such as cochlear implants, pacemaker;
3. Having wounds and diseased skin on the electrode position.