J019 Accelerated RTMS TB in DLPC clinical trial placebo-controlled in Huntington’s disease. An EEG study with executive control and social cognition outcomes

<h3>Background</h3> Huntington’s disease is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that leads to severe motor, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has gained attention because of its potential to modulate neural activity and improve depression and cognitive function, even in neurodegenerative diseases.¹ The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPC) plays a crucial role in executive function, flexibility and social cognition,² all of which are affected by Huntington’s disease.³ The EEG Stroop test is a well-established measure of cognitive flexibility and executive control.⁴ <h3>Aims</h3> This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an accelerated TB rTMS stimulation protocol on DLPFC, placebo-controlled, on cognitive (mainly executive and social cognition), psychiatric, and clinical variables. <h3>Methods</h3> All participants (n = 7) were assessed at baseline (T0), after placebo stimulation (T1), after the accelerated rTMS protocol (five sessions × day/4 days) (T2), and after 60 days (T3) using clinical, cognitive, and EEG assessments. <h3>Results</h3> Statistical analyses of the EEG Stroop test and cognitive variables showed a trend (not significant) of slight improvement in performance from T0 to T1, with an increase between T1 and T2 and an inverse trend towards T3. Stronger results were found for psychiatric variables (depression and apathy), which decreased towards T3. <h3>Conclusions</h3> To enhance the understanding of accelerated rTMS on DLPFC in electrophysiological, cognitive, psychiatric, and clinical data, it is imperative to re-evaluate trends in a larger sample size. <h3>References</h3> Sharbafshaaer M, <i>et al</i>. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in mild cognitive impairment: effects on cognitive functions-a systematic review. <i>J Clin Med.</i> 2023 Sep 25;<b>12</b>(19):6190. Nejati V, <i>et al.</i> The role of dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the processing of emotional dimensions. <i>Sci Rep.</i> 2021 Jan 21;<b>11</b>(1):1971. Cavallo M, <i>et al.</i> Cognitive and social cognition deficits in Huntington’s disease differ between the prodromal and the manifest stages of the condition: A scoping review of recent evidence. <i>Br J Clin Psychol</i>. 2022 Jun;<b>61</b>(2):214-241. Heidlmayr K, e<i>t al.</i> A review on the electroencephalography markers of Stroop executive control processes. <i>Brain Cogn</i>. 2020 Dec;146:105637.