tDCS and the Cardiovascular System in Community-dwelling Elderly.

Assess Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cardiovascular and Locomotor Outcomes in the Community-dwellers

This study could contribute to the advancements in healthcare by exploring the innovative intervention, which is Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Investigating its impact on cardiovascular and locomotor outcomes could give rise to new non-pharmacological interventions for health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation.

Age-related functional decline occurs in various organs like the cardiovascular system, brain, muscles, lungs, kidneys, and immune system in the body, contributing significantly to the onset of frailty in elderly individuals. Due to routine degeneration of aging, physical impairments related to movement take place, which include strength, balance, gait, and performance issues (5).

Cardiovascular autonomic regulation is considered an important factor in health, while the autonomic nervous system is important for adapting therapy for prolonged cardiovascular outcomes.

The process of aging can produce pathological changes in the cardiovascular system, whose results may lead to CVD. One of the main changes of aging is the augmented stiffness of central arteries, known as vascular aging. It occurs due to loss of elastic fibers and accumulation of collagen in the major elastic arteries, which leads to an increase in systolic and pulse pressures of healthy elderly individuals. These hemodynamic changes in vessels lead to clinical illness and increase the risk of developing hypertension, atherosclerosis, and stroke. While some other studies have shown that aging is also related to continuous decline in exercise capacity, walking ability, and physical function, impacting the performance of daily activity and maintaining personal independence. Walking limitation is very frequent in the elderly population, estimated at 58.1% to 93.2%, which can be a functional dependence risk factor among community dwellers. While increasing walking ability impacts several aspects of health-related quality of life, including physical, social, and emotional well-being.

tDCS has a considerable impact on neuroplasticity and hypotension by delivering new interventional strategies to control blood pressure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to ambulate independently (with or without assistive device)
• Cognitively intact (MoCA score ≥ 24)
• PAR-Q

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of seizures or epilepsy
• Implanted metallic or electronic devices (e.g., pacemakers, ICD)
• Uncontrolled hypertension (>180/110 mmHg)
• Severe cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, or orthopedic disorders limiting participation
• Active skin conditions at electrode sites
• Recent hospitalization (<3 months)
• Ongoing hormonal therapy, anticoagulants, or psychotropic medications