Abstract Details

Title Individually-Targeted Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Enhances Language Recovery in Patients with Chronic Non-Fluent Aphasia

Topic Behavioral Neurology

Presentation(s) S18 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 006

Objective

Background Emerging evidence suggests that tDCS may improve naming in persons with chronic non-fluent aphasia due to stroke. Language improvements beyond naming have not been thoroughly investigated. Moreover, prior investigations have employed different electrode polarities at different sites, raising the question of whether optimal stimulation parameters vary across patients.

Design/Methods Individuals with moderate to mild non-fluent aphasia have been recruited for this ongoing two-phase study. In Phase 1, over five non-consecutive days, participants underwent tDCS with four different stimulation montages (anode F3, cathode F3, anode F4, cathode F4) and a sham condition. During real stimulation, 2.0mA current was delivered through 5cm x 5cm electrodes for 20 min. Picture naming ability was measured before and after stimulation. Participants who demonstrate improvement in naming after stimulation with a specific electrode arrangement participate in Phase 2, a sham-controlled partial-crossover treatment trial involving 10 days of stimulation.

Results To date, 11 subjects have completed Phase 1 of this ongoing investigation. Seven demonstrated substantive improvement in object naming ability following stimulation and were enrolled in Phase 2. To date, three of these subjects have completed six-month follow-up. All three have shown statistically significant improvement (one-sample t-tests; p < .05) in the WAB aphasia quotient at two weeks, two months, and six months post-stimulation compared to baseline.

Conclusions Consistent with prior investigations, the preliminary results suggest that tDCS may be a promising technique for enhancing post-stroke aphasia recovery, potentially improving language abilities beyond naming. Optimal electrode arrangement appears to vary across participants, suggesting that individualized treatment may further improve language outcomes.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Gabriella Garcia (Temple University School of Medicine)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Jared Medina, PhD (University of Delaware Psychology)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Roy H. Hamilton, MD, MS, FANA, FAAN	Dr. Hamilton has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Highland Instruments. Dr. Hamilton has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an officer or member of the Board of Directors for McKnight Brain Research Foundation. Dr. Hamilton has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Neurology (Journal). The institution of Dr. Hamilton has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Hamilton has received research support from Department of Defense. The institution of Dr. Hamilton has received research support from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

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