A study led by the University of Florida found that a noninvasive brain stimulation treatment was effective in improving depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults.
The study showed that patients who reported higher levels of symptoms before treatment experienced the greatest improvements in depression and anxiety. The benefits of the treatment lasted for up to one year for participants with moderate to severe state anxiety.
Published in the journal Brain Stimulation, the findings suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could be a promising option for treating depression and anxiety in older adults, as these conditions affect a significant portion of this population.
Dr. Adam Woods, the senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of accessible and noninvasive treatment options for individuals who may not respond to traditional medication or therapy.
The study also found that even subclinical depression and anxiety can have negative impacts on cognitive function in older adults. The tDCS treatment targets the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in cognition and emotion regulation.
Conducted as part of the National Institute on Aging-funded Augmenting Clinical Training in Older Adults Study, the research included nearly 400 older adults who were randomly assigned to receive tDCS paired with cognitive training or a placebo version of tDCS.
Results showed significant improvements in mild depression and moderate to severe state anxiety for participants who received tDCS compared to those who did not. The study’s lead author, Hanna Hausman, highlighted the therapeutic effects of tDCS on older adults without significant psychiatric histories.
Future research plans include a phase 3 clinical trial to assess the effects of tDCS and cognitive training on anxiety in a larger and more diverse group of older adults. With further study, tDCS could potentially become an accessible treatment option for depression and anxiety in the U.S.
Overall, tDCS treatment is cost-effective, portable, and can be easily integrated into existing mental health therapies. The potential for at-home self-administration makes it a promising intervention for individuals who face barriers to accessing traditional clinical care.
