Multifocal Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Crossover - Summary - MDSpire

Multifocal Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Crossover

  • By

  • Umberto Nencha

  • Monika Pupíková

  • Margaux di Natale

  • Pablo Maceira-Elvira

  • Martin Gajdoš

  • Elena Beanato

  • Stavriani Skarvelaki

  • Rebecca Jones

  • Isabel Ericson

  • Martin Lamoš

  • Andrea Nuti

  • Fabienne Windel

  • David Ondráček

  • Adam Šimo

  • Ela Vojtková

  • Klára Špunarová

  • Vincent Alvarez

  • Oana Simionescu

  • Giovanni B. Frisoni

  • Estelle Raffin

  • Irena Rektorová

  • Friedhelm C. Hummel

  • July 6, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate whether dual-target, noninvasive neuromodulation of the striatum and cerebellum can improve working memory (WM) in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), particularly those with early nigro-striatal degeneration.

Approach:
  • Study Design: A quadruple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted with patients diagnosed with amnestic MCI and mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB), alongside age-matched healthy controls.
  • Stimulation Method: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the left inferior cerebellar hemisphere, followed by striatal transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS), utilizing two plasticity-inducing protocols.
Key Findings:
  • Patients with amnestic MCI showed greater impairment in cognitive functions compared to healthy controls and those with MCI-LB.
  • MCI-LB patients exhibited selective impairments in executive functions and visual memory.
  • The study assessed the impact of dual-target stimulation on WM performance during tasks manipulating distractor inhibition and memory load.
Interpretation:

The findings suggest that targeting both the striatum and cerebellum may provide a novel approach to enhance cognitive function in MCI patients, particularly in those with Lewy body pathology.

Limitations:
  • The study's sample size and duration may limit the generalizability of the findings.
  • Potential variability in individual responses to stimulation based on resting-state functional connectivity and gray matter volume was not fully explored.
Conclusion:

The dual-target stimulation approach may represent a promising strategy for cognitive rehabilitation in MCI, warranting further investigation.

Sources:

Original Source(s)

Multifocal Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation to Enhance Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Crossover

  • by Umberto Nencha, Monika Pupíková, Margaux di Natale, Pablo Maceira-Elvira, Martin Gajdoš, Elena Beanato, Stavriani Skarvelaki, Rebecca Jones, Isabel Ericson, Martin Lamoš, Andrea Nuti, Fabienne Windel, David Ondráček, Adam Šimo, Ela Vojtková, Klára Špunarová, Vincent Alvarez, Oana Simionescu, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Estelle Raffin, Irena Rektorová, Friedhelm C. Hummel

  • July 6, 2026

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