What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the combined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive training on cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.

April 13, 2026Open Access

Combined home-delivered transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial

JMJuan C. MelendezUniversitat de València JEJ Juan EscuderoHospital General Universitario De Valencia ESEncarnación SatorresUniversitat de València

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the combined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive training on cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Conducted a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial
Involved 41 participants aged 65 and older with MCI-AD
Participants were divided into four groups receiving different combinations of tDCS and cognitive training
Interventions occurred over 10 daily sessions in participants’ homes
Cognitive assessments were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and one month later
Significant improvements were observed in global cognition (MMSE) and several memory measures (TAVEC Trial 1, TAVEC Total, Forward Digit Span) for the combined group
Sustained cognitive performance improvements were noted post-intervention and at follow-up
Effect sizes indicated significant group × time interactions suggesting meaningful cognitive gains for the home-delivered combined intervention

Abstract

Non-pharmacological interventions such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training (CT) may benefit cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (MCI-AD), yet evidence on combined, home-delivered protocols remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a combined home-delivered combined tDCS and CT intervention across multiple cognitive domains in individuals with MCI-AD. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial in 41 participants (≥ 65 years) with MCI-AD, allocated to four experimental conditions: (1) tDCS combined with CT, (2) tDCS without CT, (3) sham tDCS combined with CT, and (4) sham tDCS without CT. Interventions were delivered at participants’ homes by trained staff across 10 daily sessions. Outcomes (MMSE; TAVEC Trial 1/Total/Delayed; Forward Digit Span) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Data were analyzed with 4 × 3 mixed-design ANOVAs (group×time) with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc tests; partial eta-squared was reported as effect size. Significant group × time interactions were found for global cognition (MMSE), immediate memory (TAVEC Trial 1), verbal learning (TAVEC Total), and short-term memory (Forward Digit Span) (all p<.05). The combined tDCS + CT group showed sustained improvements across the significant cognitive domains at post-intervention and follow-up. This randomized controlled trial provides evidence that a home-delivered combined intervention of tDCS and CT can enhance cognitive performance in older adults with MCI-AD. Improvements were domain-specific and sustained over short follow-up. While the modest sample and limited follow-up warrant cautious interpretation, the findings support the potential of combined non-pharmacological interventions delivered at home and highlight the need for larger longitudinal studies to establish their long-term efficacy and scalability. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06861231. Registered on February 28, 2025.

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