Combining transcranial direct current stimulation with a motor-cognitive task: the impact on dual-task walking costs in older adults.
Nofar Schneider, Moria Dagan, Racheli Katz and 6 others
PMID 33526043WHAT IT FOUND
Applying brain stimulation while older adults walked a complex virtual reality task cut dual-task walking costs by almost 50%.
Stimulation while seated or sham stimulation during walking did not change gait costs. This immediate effect requires confirmation in larger trials before clinical use.
Key findings
01The reduction in dual-task cost to gait speed differed significantly across conditions, with the combination of real stimulation and walking showing a greater reduction than either alone.
02Dual-task cost to gait speed was reduced by almost 50% on average after the combined stimulation and walking condition, whereas it remained unchanged in the other two conditions.
03The combined condition also improved performance on the interference trial of the Stroop test, but did not improve standing postural sway or the Symbol Digit Modalities Test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This was a pilot study with only 25 participants, so the results are preliminary and may not be generalizable. The effects were measured immediately after a single 20-minute session. It is unknown if these benefits last or if repeated sessions are required for sustained improvement. The study included only healthy older adults who could already walk independently, so it does not address people with neurological conditions or significant mobility limitations. The sample had an imbalance of gender (20 women, 5 men), which may affect the applicability of results to men. The virtual reality task was complex; it is unclear if simpler walking tasks would yield similar results.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the United States - Israel Binational Science Foundation. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that brain stimulation alone improves gait. The benefit only occurred when stimulation was applied simultaneously with a complex motor-cognitive walking task. Stimulation while seated or sham stimulation during walking had no effect on dual-task costs.