Analysis of Predictive Factors for Cognitive Function Improvement After tDCS Treatment in Patients With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify predictive factors for significant cognitive improvement following transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), thereby providing evidence for individualized clinical intervention. METHODS: A total of 123 patients with PSCI who received tDCS treatment were retrospectively enrolled. Based on changes in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, patients were classified into a cognitive improvement group (n = 61) and a non-improvement group (n = 62). Baseline clinical characteristics were collected, and activities of daily living were using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Univariate analyses were performed to compare differences between the two groups, and variables with statistical significance in univariate analysis were further entered into a multivariate logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of significant cognitive improvement following tDCS treatment. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with a university education or above was significantly in the cognitive improvement group higher than in the non-improvement group (p < 0.001); whereas the proportion of patients with a history of stroke in the non-improvement group was significantly higher (p < 0.05). Patients in the cognitive improvement group had a significantly shorter disease duration compared to those in the non-improvement group (p < 0.05); meanwhile, a higher proportion of patients with Fazekas grade 0-1 was observed in the improvement group (p < 0.05). Results of the multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that educational level and disease duration were independent predictive factorsforsignificant cognitive improvement after tDCS treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PSCI patients with higher educational level and shorter disease duration have a better cognitive improvement effect following tDCS treatment.