TRANSCRANIAL PULSE STIMULATION (TPS) – NEW PERSPECTIVES IN TREATMENT OF DEMENTIA IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

Abstract Background Dementia is one of the most common mental illnesses. The impairment of a normal symptom-free life according to DALY is, next to depression, the second most pronounced with deficits in social and everyday behaviour. Early and adequate treatment is of high relevance. Dementia in Alzheimer's disease is often associated with depressive symptoms. A psychiatric clinic in Lower Saxony (Wahrendorff clinic, Germany) has focused on treating patients with this diagnosis as early as possible on an outpatient basis. For this purpose TPS is used. With the aim of releasing growth factors and contributing an improvement in cerebral blood flow, low-frequency sound pulses are introduced into brain regions in order to promote and maintain cognitive performance. Some studies have found positive effects, although more research is needed. The aim of the current study is to investigate the development of cognitive performance and depressive symptom severity over the course of treatment with TPS, focus on the question if there is an improvement. Methods Cognitive performance (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MOCA) and depressive symptom severity (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS) are assessed at the beginning of the treatment (t1) and every three months during the course of treatment from patients with a diagnosis of Dementia in Alzheimer's disease who have undergone treatment with TPS since june 2021 (n = 80) in the outpatient setting of Wahrendorff clinic. In this study a follow-up until 9 months of treatment (t3) should be considered. Results Analysis of variance with repeated measurement show a minimal increase in mean values of MOCA from the different measurement points, without statistical significance (mean value MOCA t1 = 12.94 vs. t2 = 13.05, p n.s.). Analysis of variance with repeated measurement show that there is a statistical significant difference in the mean values of GDS from the different measurement points with a decrease of depressive symptom severity (mean value GDS t1 = 8.91 vs. t2 = 6.72, p less than 0.05). Conclusion Results suggest that TPS could lead to maintaining the cognitive performance of patients with Dementia in Alzheimer's disease over the course of treatment. Futhermore treatment with TPS could lead to an improvement of depressive symptom severity. The TPS might be helpful in the treatment of Dementia in Alzheimer's disease and its symptoms and might give new perspectives in the treatment, especially as patients report high treatment tolerance and few side effects. Further data should be collected so the study is being continued and not yet concluded.