ePoster

Effect of a combined intervention of tDCS and physical exercise in people over 65 years of age: FRAIL TRAIN

Cristina Nombela Otero, Carla Carrillo, Alejandro Llopis, Elena Pérez Hernández
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Cristina Nombela Otero, Carla Carrillo, Alejandro Llopis, Elena Pérez Hernández

Abstract

Introduction:Fragility is a clinical condition, associated with age, characterized by a decrease in physiological reserve, leading to increased vulnerability to stressors. It is a multidimensional concept that includes 4 components: motor, cognitive, nutritional, and affective. The objective of this study is to evaluate the combined effect of tDCS with a multicomponent motor intervention program to reduce frailty indices in individuals over 65 years old.Methods:The design included the randomization of 26 participants (mean age 73 years, 23 women) into two groups (experimental group vs. placebo group). Over 5 weeks, they underwent a program consisting of 1 hour of multicomponent exercise followed by 20 minutes of tDCS stimulation (20µA) three days a week in a double-blind design. The anode electrode was at F3 and the cathode in Fp2.Motor assessment included the FRAIL scale, the Barthel index, and Fried's frailty criteria. The neuropsychological questionnaires were MMSE, WMS IV Word Pairs test. and th eassessment of depressive symptoms included Geriatric Depression Scale, before and after the intervention.Results:The training program indicates non-significant decreases in frailty index scores (Barthel index) and in depression (GDS-R), as well as an increase in scores on memory tests (delayed recall of Word Pairs from the WMS-IV).Conclusion:The combined intervention of physical exercise and tDCS generates benefits in the different components of the frailty concept in individuals over 65 years old after 5 weeks of intervention. Currently, we are developing this program by extending the sessions from 5 weeks to 10 weeks.

Unique ID: fens-24/effect-combined-intervention-tdcs-physical-d24fec64