Neuroenhancement of the aging brain: Restoring skill acquisition in old subjects

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 10 - 15
• Main Authors: Zimerman, Máximo, Nitsch, Marie, Giraux, Pascal, Gerloff, Christian, Cohen, Leonardo G., Hummel, Friedhelm C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging - physiology; Aging - psychology; Attention; Attention - physiology; Brain; Brain - physiology; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Middle Aged; Motor ability; Motor Cortex; Motor Cortex - physiology; Motor Skills; Motor Skills - physiology; Pilot Projects; Psychomotor Performance; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - methods; Young Adult; Silk Road Medical; travel expenses; Pfizer. F.C.H.: consultancy; paid educational presentations; EBS Technologies; Pfizer; speaking fees; Sanofi Aventis speaking fees; Sanofi Aventis; Pfizer travel expenses; Bayer Vital; Glaxo Smith Kline; UCB; Boehringer Ingelheim; Merz Pharmaceuticals. C.G.: consultancy; Lundbeck
• ISSN: 0364-5134; 1531-8249; 1531-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.23761

Objective: Decline in cognitive functions, including impaired acquisition of novel skills, is a feature of older age that impacts activities of daily living, independence, and integration in modern societies. Methods: We tested whether the acquisition of a complex motor skill can be enhanced in old subjects by the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the motor cortex. Results: The main finding was that old participants experienced substantial improvements when training was applied concurrent with tDCS, with effects lasting for at least 24 hours. Interpretation: These results suggest noninvasive brain stimulation as a promising and safe tool to potentially assist functional independence of aged individuals in daily life. ANN NEUROL 2013