Physical therapy is known to improve both motor and cognitive functioning in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), and new research suggests that the addition of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to physical therapy could provide further cognitive benefits. The study included 20 patients with PD, who were assigned to physical therapy plus tDCS or physical therapy alone. Both groups showed enhancement of motor abilities and amelioration of depressive symptoms, and the patients who received tDCS showed additional improvements in cognition and verbal fluency.
References
Mananti, R. et al. Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease is improved by transcranial direct current stimulation combined with physical therapy. Mov. Disord. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mds.26561
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Wood, H. Can tDCS enhance the benefits of physical therapy in patients with PD?. Nat Rev Neurol 12, 126 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.24