Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on neurological and psychiatric diseases

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders caused by the destruction and death of neurons. They are clinically heterogeneous and can manifest in a variety of ways. Evidence suggests that inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of several common neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and common psychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. One of the effective and novel interventions is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which modulates central nervous system activity. This non-invasive brain stimulation method induces changes in inflammatory responses. The present study aimed to assess e the effects of tDCS on neurodegenerative diseases caused by neuroinflammation. Despite the prominent role of inflammation in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, there is still no effective and safe treatment to control inflammatory processes in these diseases. On the other hand, considering that some inflammatory processes in the nervous system are beneficial, controlling inflammation rather than suppressing it is a more effective treatment approach. It seems that tDCS induction can be a safe and effective method for the relative improvement of some symptoms of neurological and psychiatric diseases.