Effetti a breve e a lungo termine della neuromodulazione corticale (tDCS) e del training cognitivo nell’healthy ageing. Correlati EEG e comportamentali

[Autom. eng. transl.] In the theoretical framework of active and healthy aging, interventions of cognitive and electrophysiological empowerment offer themselves as potential tools for containing the physiological cognitive decline and its pathological drifts. Based on the evidence relating to the primary involvement of prefrontal structures and executive functions mediated by them in aging, two augmentation protocols mediated, respectively, by computerized cognitive training and non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS) were designed and investigated. In order to evaluate also the effects of neuroplasticity, the survey integrated classic psychometric measures with electrophysiological indicators (event-related potentials, ERP) of outcome. A control group and two experimental groups composed of elderly people without acute or chronic cognitive deficits took part in the study and then underwent a standardized electrophysiological and neuropsychological evaluation at the beginning and at the end of the intervention phase, and after six months . Both experimental protocols included an eight-week course with three sessions a week. The analyzes, carried out by controlling the effect of individual differences, showed different improvement profiles in favor of the experimental groups, with an increase in the scores obtained in standardized tests on executive functions and in the electrophysiological responses associated with attentional orientation processes (N200). These effects were partially maintained also at the follow-up survey, suggesting interesting implications of neuromodulation techniques in preventive or early intervention pathways. In addition, the evidence suggests that the integration of different measures (EEG and behavioral data) is crucial for an adequate comparison between different protocols and for the evaluation of different response profiles to different enhancement treatments.