Effetti a breve e lungo termine di un protocollo di potenziamento delle funzioni cognitive mediante tDCS nell’invecchiamento

[Autom. eng. transl.] Non-invasive stimulation techniques (tDCS) are proving effective in improving the cognitive profile of patients suffering from degenerative or cerebrovascular diseases. However, their potential in physiological aging has been subjected to limited investigations and most studies have explored the effects of a single training session. The present research aims to investigate the efficacy of a multi-session prefrontal neuromodulation protocol in enhancing executive functions and automatic attentional responses (ERPs) in a group of healthy elderly. Participants (N = 23) were divided between the experimental and the control group. The experimental design included an entry assessment session, a reassessment at the end of the protocol and a six-month follow-up. The evaluation included a series of standardized neuropsychological tests and the detection of event-related responses (ERPs) during a computerized attentional task. The enhancement protocol through direct current stimulation (tDCS) lasted eight weeks, with three weekly sessions and bi-weekly executive tasks. The comparison of behavioral and electrophysiological data to evaluations for the experimental and control group showed an improvement in the performance of the experimental group at the conclusion of the tDCS protocol, with a partial maintenance also observed at follow-up. Positive effects were found on executive function tests and early ERP responses to the computerized attention test. The multi-session protocol of prefrontal neuromodulation appears to be able to induce the enhancement of specific cognitive functions even in physiological aging, with a good long-term maintenance. This effect is plausibly mediated by subjective resources (cognitive reserve), and suggests interesting implications for prevention.